Skip to content

Does Ram Need Drivers – Answered & FAQ

    ✅ Fact Checked
    Updated on October 6, 2022
    John Chad, Bachelor Computer Science Degree & Computer Engineering.
    Written by
    John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
    Russel Collins
    Fact Checked by
    Russel Collins
    John is a certified IT & Computer Engineer with a Bachelors Degree. He has worked for a International Insurance Company in the IT department before deciding to become a full time blogger to help his readers. Holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Stanford University.

    This is a frequently asked question about RAM, in this article, we will explore this subject and answer as many of these questions as we possibly can so you understand more about how RAM works.

    How Do I Know If My Ram Is Working?

    Generally, if your PC starts up without issues then your RAM is working because otherwise, your computer wouldn’t work properly without functioning RAM, however, if you wish to see if any of the RAM sticks is malfunctioning you can do the following:

    In your start menu, type “Windows Memory Diagnostic” and launch the program.
    Select “Restart now and check for errors.” Windows will automatically restart, run the program, and restart Windows.
    – Once recovered, wait for the result message.

    Can I Just Add Ram To My Pc?

    How much RAM will your PC hold? Without confirming a few things in advance, you can’t just add more RAM to your machine.
    Any PC has two limitations on its maximum RAM: its motherboard and its operating system (OS). The maximum RAM for your PC is whichever is lower.

    Find your motherboard’s maximum RAM Your motherboard has a maximum amount of RAM that it can handle and a set number of RAM slots — the physical spaces where the RAM modules are located. When deciding how to choose RAM for your motherboard, keep these things in mind.

    First, identify the model of motherboard you have. To prevent taking things apart, you can use a third-party program such as Speccy by CCleaner, which will display all of your computer’s primary details without having to search around for it. Identify your motherboard manufacturer and model, then check the maximum RAM capacity online or in your ownership manual.

    RAM modules come in a variety of sizes, so even if you have only a few RAM slots, you can still meet your motherboard’s RAM maximum by purchasing higher-capacity RAM modules. For example, if your motherboard has four RAM slots and maxes out at 32 GB of RAM, you can buy four 8 GB RAM modules.

    Make sure the RAM you’re buying is compatible with your motherboard. Today’s RAM is branded DDR4 or DDR5, while the previous generation is referred to as DDR- DDR3 RAM modules will not be compatible with a motherboard with DDR4 slots, and vice versa.

    Can I Add Any Type Of Ram To My Pc?

    Any RAM will fit into any slot, according to a common misconception of RAM, However, not all motherboards are compatible with all RAM, some motherboards only work with DDR3 RAM while others work with DDR4 or even DDR5. We also recommend that you buy matched pairs of RAM (two sticks from the same manufacturer, same speed, and the same capacity) for the best results.

    Can Any Ram Be Compatible With Any Motherboard?

    Since each type of memory has different notch locations (which are critical for installation), different memory technologies aren’t always compatible with each other. Motherboards are generally only able to handle one form of memory technology.

    The most effective way to determine compatibility With so many variations in memory, it’s important to know which type of memory will work in your device. Our simple-to-use compatibility tools come into play here.

    The Crucial System Scanner is a downloadable program that makes finding compatibility information simple. This program analyzes your PC’s configuration and then suggests a list of compatible upgrades in a matter of seconds. If you don’t know your system’s specs, use this program.

    After you’ve obtained details about your system’s manufacturer, make, and model, the Crucial Advisor is a tool that provides a list of compatible upgrades for your machine. If you know your machine’s specs, use this program.

    Can I Add More Ram To My Prebuilt?

    If you’ve bought a pre-built PC with a standard chassis and motherboard, there’s a good chance you’ll upgrade some of the components. If either or both are proprietary, your upgrades will be limited to only RAM, GPU, and storage.

    It’s not something that’s immediately considered when buying a PC online because not all vendors will have information or internal photos.

    The graphics card would be the primary component to upgrade for gaming PCs. Replacing the card that comes preinstalled is a sure way to raise in-game results. We always recommend investing as much as possible on the best graphics card you can afford.

    It’s actually in the system integrator’s best interest in making money that you pay for the updates outright. The companies want you to invest the money with them, not have to buy an aftermarket part and save money. This is why you may find some custom parts or a situation that specifically caters to OEM parts.

    The best way to buy a pre-built PC that can be upgraded later is to buy one that uses an ATX standard motherboard and PC. If the PSU (power supply) and motherboard (compatibility) are able to cope with various upgrades to the device, you shouldn’t have any problems. But then, you should be building the PC from scratch, and we have a guide to building a PC.

    Watch out for system warranties When buying a pre-built unit (or include it in the extended warranty), it’s important to be cautious when upgrading or replacing hardware.

    How Do I Know What Ram Is Compatible With My Motherboard?

    Using the motherboard specifications will determine whether a particular RAM stick will work with your motherboard or not. This will give you more information about the motherboard’s type, size, and RAM characteristics.

    A motherboard is not backwards compatible, as far as the RAM type is concerned, i.e. DDR 2, DDR 3 and DDR 4, it should be noted. You cannot install a DDR4 RAM on a motherboard that is supposed to handle DDR3 RAM and vice versa.

    However, the RAM sticks are still backward compatible, both in terms of frequency and CAS latency. A DDR4 RAM stick with a frequency of 3200 MHz will work on a motherboard that is designed to handle a maximum frequency of 3000 MHz.

    We’ll explore in the following text how to tell whether RAM will work with your motherboard or not.

    We’ll also discuss how to determine the RAM stick in your hand’s specifications.

    How to Tell If RAM Will Work With Your Motherboard?

    When determining whether the RAM stick will work with your motherboard or not, there are two primary points to consider.

    Figure out the RAM STICK specifications of your motherboard. Figure out the memory requirements of your Motherboard From the motherboard’s specifications, there is a slew of details you can find about the RAM that it will support.

    If you look at the motherboard’s details, you’ll find something similar to the following: The motherboard shown above is a high-end Intel Z590 chipset. It can be used with DDR4 RAM sticks with super overclocked frequencies of up to 5333 MHz.

    Now your motherboard may not have the same specifications.
    However, you should expect to find the following information from the motherboard’s technical specs: Type of RAM it supports The amount of RAM it can support The amount of RAM it can handle Whether it supports ECC memory or not – DDR4 RAM is the most popular motherboard at the moment. DDR stands for Double Data Rate, and it is essentially a form of high-band RAM.