The amount of installed physical memory or RAM is one of the most important elements of any computer. Larger amounts of RAM allow games and applications to run faster and more efficiently. Some games and programs have minimum memory requirements, so it's important to know how much RAM your computer has before you purchase new software or attempt an upgrade. Follow these steps to find out how much RAM is currently installed in your system.
Step 1
Click on "Start", then "Control Panel" and then "System." Select the "General" tab. The amount of RAM and your processor speed will be listed at the bottom of the page.
Step 2
Click on "Start", then "All Programs" and then "Accessories." Click on "System Tools" and then select "System Information." The amount of RAM will be listed under "Total Physical Memory" in the right pane.
Step 3
Restart your computer and follow the instructions in your owner's manual to enter the BIOS. The amount of installed memory will be listed on the system summary page.
Step 4
Go to "System" then "Preferences" and then "Hardware List" to find the amount of RAM in your system If you have a different operating system, like Ubuntu/Linux.
Tip
Refer to your computer owner's manual to determine the maximum amount of RAM your computer can take as well as the speed and type. You can also open your computer to find out how much memory is installed. The speed and type of the RAM will be stamped on each memory module. For example, it may read something like 2GB DDRII 667.
Warning
All Windows releases have physical memory limits built into the system. If you have more RAM installed than the limit, the amount of installed memory listed in Windows will not be accurate. Refer to the link below for more information.