Win10/64 System: More Ram?

Hi! I have a Win10/64 system at a day program, and it's slow. I think it's because it has only 4GB RAM. I noticed this while trying to install a RAM drive: the program upon install told me that the RAM was mostly full. I didn't finish installing the RAM drive, but apparently, the driver was installed, as, first, I was getting messages about a trial period, and now, I'm getting some that the trial period expired. Three questions: 1. how do I find out what type of RAM I need? 2. How much would 4GB more cost? I live in the U'S. 3. What RAM drive would you recommend? I'm currently using SoftPerfect and only need some functionality: the basics.

 

In reverse order, (3) I recommend you do NOT use a RAM drive. A RAM drive sets aside a portion of your RAM to use like a disk drive. You already are critically low on RAM, it makes no sense to take more away for a "virtual" drive.

FTR, RAM drives in general are not considered practical these days for several reasons. The data can too easily be corrupted. Hard drives are faster than way back in the day. And more significantly, more and more systems are based on extremely fast SSDs, instead of hard drives.

(2) The cost of 4GB depends on the type RAM, brand, model number, etc. Assuming DDR4, you should easily find another 4GB stick for under $40.

(1) To see what type (and how much) your system supports you need to research the specific model number of your computer (or motherboard if custom/self built). You could also visit the Crucial website and run their Crucial System Scanner.

This tool will scan your system, determine what RAM your system supports, then offer suggestions. You do not have to buy from them. You can search their suggested model numbers and typically find them on Amazon or another site.

However, if you buy suggested RAM directly from Crucial, they guarantee it will work with your system. And last time I purchased RAM from Crucial, it was actually $10 cheaper than Amazon. After Crucial's added shipping fee, I still came out ahead.

You can also search Amazon etc., for RAM with the same specs as suggested RAM. While ideally in the past, we wanted to match existing RAM brand, size and model number to ensure dual-channel (if system supported). But today's systems and RAM are much more capable of enabling dual channel (again if system supported) with slightly mismatched RAM. Still need to be same size, but generally different brands will still work fine.

Note most other RAM makers have similar scanners.

 

I thank you. You're right about RAM drives not being practical: modern SSD drives are way fast and would benefit little from a RAM drive. I'll download Crucial in a few minutes, take it to program and try it out. BTW, your first comment was what I was thinking, but the driver got installed anyway. How can I uninstall it?

 

I tried it thinking I can take it to program with me. The computer in question has internet access, but it's spotty, and I prefer the program to be on a flash drive.

 

You probably need to contact SoftPerfect.

 

Tomorrow, I plan to check if it has an uninstall option, and if I don't get another option, the web site.

 

I downloaded the program. Apparently, it's a console application, but when I ran it, the window popped up for a half-second then disappeared. I was successful in uninstalling the RAM drive, though.

 

Can the System control panel give me the informarion? I navigated the Win98SE version brfore but not recent versions except to add environment variables.

 

Is there a program other than Crucial that can detect RAM type?

 

Have you tried HWinfo?

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hwinfo32.html

 

I'll download it today.

 

I tried the program, and it worked. Thank you. I collected a report and placed it on a flash drive. I need to speak to the administrator there about the issue. I'm willing to pay a little for the hardware, but the gift card from my mother is lost, and I don't know when either I get a new gift card or she finds the missing one.

 

I have the gift card now, and it has $200 on it, so I should be able to get the RAM upgrade.

 

Make sure verify your computer support more RAM and if so, that you ensure you buy compatible RAM.

As I noted in post #2 above, the Crucial System Scanner will check to see what your computers supports, then offer compatible suggestions.

 

I used another suggested program and got the results but didn't save them. I'll have to try them again and this time save the results. Thank you.

 

Most RAM makers have similar RAM wizards. Crucial's has a long reputation for being reliable. And again, if you buy suggested RAM from them, they guarantee compatibility. Last time I bought from them, it was $10 cheaper than Amazon.

Regardless where you buy from, make sure they have a good return policy incase it does not work.

 

Thank you.

 

I ran the program, and it worked, but I have a problem: how do I save the information? I'm sure I can do it, as I was able to do it before.

 

Did you try taking a screen shot? That said, SOME Hardware Reporting Software has a "Print" and/or "Save" function. For example CPU-Z (v 1.78.3.x64) under the "Tool" button at the bottom of it's window has the options to "Save Report as .TXT" or "Save Report as .HTML". I don't know if the newer versions of CPU-Z still offer those save options, but I highly suspect that it still does. Also CPU-Z reports back several system/hardware specs including how much Memory in each slot, What type, performance info & brand/make.

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/cpu_z.html


Below are some other similar programs that may be of interest in no particular order.

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hwinfo32_portable.html

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hwinfo.html (for DOS)

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/systeminfo.html

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_hardware_identify_portable.html

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/sysid.html (likely better on older systems & OSs)

Hope this helps.

 

I have Greenshot, but it's not on the computer in question. I'll look for it and make a copy for the day program in a few minutes. BTW, I believe I'm using HWInfo the 64-bit version.

 

Since you are using HWiNFO64, you should not need to install another screenshot program just to take the inventory back to the administrator.

HWiNFO has two different outputs: a hardware inventory report and a sensor log. For the RAM details, you want the inventory report, not a CSV of changing temperatures and clock speeds.

If you started it in Sensors-only mode, close HWiNFO and reopen it with Sensors-only unchecked. In the main window with the hardware tree, use Save Report and save the report to your flash drive. Choose one of the report formats offered by your version. If you only see the sensor table, you are not in the inventory window.

The HWiNFO author explains that distinction here, including why the inventory report is unavailable in Sensors-only mode:
https://www.hwinfo.com/forum/threads/log-file-location.4606/

Before taking the file back, open it once to check that it contains the system/motherboard identification and memory-module details you need. Keep the full report for the administrator rather than posting it publicly without checking it for serial numbers and other identifiers. The administrator should still confirm the exact supported upgrade before you buy RAM.

Disclosure: This reply was generated with Hermes Agent (OpenAI model) and checked against the HWiNFO author's explanation. Contributor affiliated with CounterStrikeGO, not HWiNFO; no claim of testing your PC.