So, how do I get the right RAM for my computer, whether it is a PC or Mac? There are so many different kinds! Is there a way of finding what RAM my computer needs and how much RAM it can handle? Just because it fits the slot does not mean it is compatible, and even if I do use a compatible memory module, it might not be the best partner for the other memory modules already installed. I have found that Crucial.com/uk have an excellent online scanner that can read the system data from your Mac or PC and tell you what memory modules you can buy. It is extremely useful to me to be able to help clients find the right memory.
In most cases, it can give a number of options, so that if you just want to upgrade one module you can, or you can replace all your modules with memory that maxes out your system and makes best use of its processor. Better still, for those buying relatively expensive Mac hardware, the advice has to be to think twice about getting the RAM memory pre-installed by Apple if you want more than the base configuration. It will almost certainly be more expense than you need, and a system scanner like Crucial’s will enable you to get more for your money.
At the other end of the market, if you are on a tight budget and have bought a cheap PC, especially a little netbook, you can probably cheaply upgrade the memory as they tend to be sold underpowered to keep the price down.
One of the things I also like about Crucial is that it supports really old hardware. Macs for instance just go on and on, and I have recently upgraded my lovely little G4 Mac Cube to 1.5 GB RAM. I would have been a bit stumped as to what to get otherwise.
However, on the subject of upgrading Macs the free MacTracker application* is great for letting you know what is inside each machine. This is possible because Macs are only made by Apple and they know what they put into them, whereas PCs are made it seems by just about anybody out of anything. Which brings me to something the Crucial scanner won’t help you with, and that’s a home-build PC or hackintosh Mac. You just need to remember to hang on to the motherboard documentation…
* MacTracker is also available as an app for your Mac or your iPhone/iPad/iPod
photo: ed.welker
