RAM, as you know, in a computer system plays one of the main roles, since, along with the central processor, it ensures the correct operation of both the operating system and the programs installed in it. How to find out how much RAM is installed on the computer, and what type it is, will be discussed later. But why is this needed? In the simplest case, we can talk about comparing our own configuration for compliance with system requirements of the same installed operating system or modern game.
Similarly, such data may be needed when upgrading a computer (for example, when adding memory strips that must correspond to a certain type). In general, there are a lot of situations. But, running ahead a little, it can be noted right away that absolutely all the tools present in the standard set of any operating system of the Windows family provide only the most concise and general information. To obtain advanced information and the required characteristics, other methods and tools are applied, which will be considered separately.
How to find out computer RAM: the simplest physical way
If you do not take into account laptops in which access to the main components installed on the motherboard can be difficult, on stationary PCs you can easily remove the side cover of the system unit, remove the memory bar from the corresponding slot on the motherboard and visually inspect it . The most common marking will give an idea of what type of memory it is and what is the size of the bar itself.
How to find out the RAM of a Windows computer on board: classic method
As already clear, with laptops this option does not work. How to find out computer random access memory in Windows 7 or in any other operating system? Elementary!
The simplest method is familiar to everyone and it consists in calling up the system properties through the PCM menu on the computer icon (in Windows 10 it is located in the "Explorer", and not on the "Desktop"). True, the disadvantage of this method is that information can only be obtained by the total or currently available volume, but there is no information about the type of memory or its manufacturer.
Using System Information
Another technique is to call a special system information applet, in which there is a bit more information, but regarding RAM it is not as much as we would like. How do I know the RAM of a computer with Windows 10 or lower in this case? To do this, use the Run menu and set the msinfo32 command to run.
In the information block responsible for RAM, you can even find virtual memory parameters, information about its status and the size of the page file. And still, this information does not fully reflect all the characteristics of RAM that may be required in each specific situation, sometimes playing an even more significant role than all information about the total or currently available volume.
DirectX Dialog Information
A similar brief information about the size of RAM can be found in a special dialogue of the DirectX platform. You can call it through the same Run menu by entering the dxdiag command.
On the main tab and will be presented brief information regarding the amount of RAM. Like all the previous ones, the method is not the most convenient, since only basic information is presented here, and, alas, there are no necessary additional characteristics that may be needed to accurately determine the type of memory bar, say, when it is replaced in case of failure.
BIOS / UEFI Options
Finally, some basic and additional characteristics of RAM can be found in the information presented in the primary BIOS / UEFI input / output systems. How to find out the computer's RAM in these settings? To do this, use the main tab or find the Chipset section.
Along with the total volume, even the frequency of the system bus will be indicated, as well as the types (standards) used for each of the brackets. Knowledge of this parameter is useful when replacing RAM strips, if any of them fails.
How to determine how much memory is currently in use?
Finally, let's see how to find out the computer’s RAM in terms of tracking its use by system or user processes at a specific point in time. All of the above methods show only a fixed total value corresponding to the time of the call of each information tool, but there is no question of the actual change in real time.
Nevertheless, in the Windows-systems themselves for this there is a well-known standard tool in the form of the most common “Task Manager”.
Only to obtain the necessary information, you should use the performance tab with the choice of the item for monitoring the RAM status.
As an additional tool, you can use the system resources monitor (you can call it up by clicking on the corresponding hyperlink). The memory tab also monitors the occupancy of RAM by one or another process (you can choose the right one directly from the list provided).
Using third-party information utilities
All this is good, but none of the methods presented (except for information in primary systems and visual inspection) does not allow to determine the type of memory, which in some cases may be the primary information among all the characteristics. How to find out which RAM on the computer is installed on the motherboard? In this case, despite the abundance of tools in the operating system itself, one cannot do without using third-party specially developed information utilities. The most popular are the applications AIDA64 (formerly Everest), CPU-Z, Speecy, and many others.
Just from them it is possible to draw a maximum of information, not to mention additional indicators like tracking changes in temperature, frequency fluctuations, changes in volume allocated to different processes, etc.
Conclusion
That, in fact, is all that relates to how to find out the computer's RAM. In principle, all the methods considered are quite simple. The main question of the preferences of the applied method consists only in what kind of information needs to be learned. If you need a minimum that applies only to volume, even the simplest viewing of computer properties is suitable . If you need to obtain advanced features, you can use the data presented in the primary input / output systems. It is even better to use narrowly targeted information utilities, since they provide the maximum of parameters and characteristics that are determined and monitored in real time. And this applies not only to RAM, but to all “iron” (and sometimes some software) components installed in a computer system.
Sometimes, as a supplementary tool, you can use the special Memtest86 + RAM testing utility, which, however, is mostly aimed at professionals, and will not say anything special to the average user in terms of information that interests him. But all those who are engaged in computer repair or troubleshooting problems with the hardware will be able to gather a lot of important information here that turn out to be inaccessible when using any other technique.