What To Do After Installing New RAM? [8 Essential things]

RAM is a form of storage that temporarily holds digital information so that the processor can utilize it more quickly. Therefore, if you want your Operating System to run more efficiently, you need RAM with higher capacity, frequency and latency.

What to do next is your first thought if you recently updated your RAM. In addition, there is little left for you to do. As a result, there is no need for you to scratch your head. Because RAM uses a plug-and-play design, it should function properly once the stick is inserted into the correct slot.

You might have considered putting in a driver specifically for running RAM. The truth is that this memory device can be used without any additional software. However, you can have a look at the RAM's frequency and latency to see if it is operating as it should.

So, we have provided this straightforward guide regarding what to do after installing new RAM.

Table Of Contents

Benefits of Installing New RAM

You most likely installed fresh RAM to increase your PC's performance. Of course, it goes far beyond that, as enhanced RAM provides many other functions.

Here are a few of the main advantages you'll experience once you upgrade or install or the RAM on the motherboard of your computer.

Your computer boots up far more quickly than it used to.
Better frame rates for a better gameplay experience
By storing more data, the computer uses less CPU power.
Improves online functionality, such as stream quality and browser performance
It can enhance your PC's overall performance

SO WHAT TO DO AFTER UPGRADING RAM?

Once more, RAM modules are plug-and-play, so installing them is usually not a concern.

However, to ensure the just added RAM is operating at its best, I advise carrying out the following tests:

Check Whether New RAM is detected
Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Install Useful Applications
Examine RAM Speed
Examine RAM Latency
Enable XMP Profile
Ensure Dual Channel Mode is working
Run a Benchmark Test

Check Whether New RAM is detected

Your motherboard might be unable to support all the RAMs you install. You must study the user manual to find the type of RAM your motherboard supports.

For instance, your CPU won't support DDR3 if your motherboard includes a DDR4 RAM slot and you try using it. In this manner, only the compatible RAM chip is recognized, and your updated RAM chip might not function.

Furthermore, there is a potential that you might have been defrauded if you purchased inexpensive RAM. Therefore, confirming that the RAM's capacity matches what is indicated on the stick is crucial.

Fortunately, Windows OS makes it possible to verify various RAM settings without entering the BIOS. Here is how you should quickly determine whether Windows 11 has detected the new Memory:

1. To open the Settings app, press the Windows + I keys simultaneously.

2. Select the About option by going to the System menu and scrolling down.

3. Locate the Installed RAM section under Device Specifications, which lists the maximum RAM capacity.

4. If the Memory matches the old Memory exactly, your motherboard is incompatible with the RAM. Therefore, verify the warranty and substitute it with the model that suits your needs.

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

It's crucial to understand if your freshly installed RAM has memory abnormalities. Employing this tool aids in the detection and diagnosis of these issues.

Therefore, we strongly advise using the Windows Memory Diagnostic program to see if your machine has a RAM issue before continuing with more procedures. Here is how to go about it:

1. Launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic program from the Start Menu.

2. Next, choose Restart right away and look for issues (recommended) choice.

3. At this point, the automatic diagnosis commences, and your computer restarts.

4. The program alerts you to a list of potential memory issues as soon as you are on the desktop.

Install Useful Applications

It starts working when the proper RAM is installed, and the CPU is turned on. So, third-party programs are optional.

However, a few helpful programs allow you to check different RAM settings which are not available inside your Windows Operating System. You can, for instance, verify the DRAM frequency, the processor's critical data and CAS Latency.

Popular programs include Memtest86, CPU-Z, Piriform Speccy and many others. You may download them from the official websites of each manufacturer.

Examine RAM Speed

Your primary motivation for installing new RAM was undoubtedly to speed it up. Therefore, it's crucial to double-check that you're getting the desired Speed after installing the RAM stick.

It's interesting to note that you can quickly check the RAM speed in Windows. Here's how:

1. Perform a right-click on your taskbar's Windows icon.

2. Next, navigate to Task Manager.

3. After that, select the Performance tab.

4. Pick Memory from the left panel.

5. Locate Speed in the right panel. You may view your RAM's frequency or Speed there in MHz.

Examine RAM Latency

Clock cycles quantify RAM Latency, sometimes called CAS Latency (CL). Cache Latency refers to how long it takes the RAM to reply to a request from the CPU, whereas RAM speed refers to how quickly the RAM might retrieve or transfer data to your CPU.

You need a RAM monitoring application, unlike RAM speed. To demonstrate, we have utilized CPU-Z to look at the CAS Latency:

1. Verify that you possess the CPU-Z application downloaded from the vendor's official website.

2. After it has been installed, run the application. Additionally, we advise making a desktop shortcut so you may access it whenever necessary.

3. Go to the Memory option at this point.

4. Your present RAM Latency is shown in the CAS# Latency (CL) section under Timings.

Enable XMP Profile

A quick and straightforward technique to increase the Speed of your Memory and enable faster clock speeds than your RAM is capable of is by turning on XMP. However, only a few motherboards are compatible with this.

To ensure that your RAM operates under the required DDR specifications, these profiles are turned off by default. Therefore, you must activate XMP in the BIOS. On a motherboard made by ASRock, the following is demonstrated:

1. Start by entering the MSI BIOS.

2. Get the XMP profile in the DRAM Specifications section. It is pre-configured to auto. Therefore, you only need to click on it, and Profile 1 will appear.

3. After saving the adjustments, your RAM will work at its best.

NOTE: Suppose you cannot find XMP, you then should be able to find its substitutes, such as EOCP in Gigabyte motherboards and DOCP in AMD motherboards.

Ensure Dual Channel Mode is working.

Only a few CPUs and laptops support dual-channel mode. Make sure that your machine is compatible with this one before continuing.

Fresh RAM sticks have two characteristics: they have two different hues, typically blue and black, or they have the numbers A1, B1, A2, and B2. Data transport is substantially faster because each channel on these many RAM chips is distinct.

How you put the numerous RAM chips will determine if you can use the dual-channel mode. You don't have to dismantle the components if the initial setup is done correctly. Fortunately, CPU-Z allows you to determine whether the dual channel feature is active or not:

1. Open the program, and then choose the Memory tab.

2. Channel# can be found under General. If Dual appears, the mode is operating without a hitch.

However, if it says Single and your system is capable of using multiple channels, you'll need to make the following adjustments and install the RAM sticks:

1. Remove the PC casing or bottom base of the laptop.

2. Find the RAM stick slots and eliminate each one.

3. Check the labels or colors of your RAM sticks, assuming you have four of them. Put A1 and B1 in the odd slots and A2 and B2 in the even spaces afterwards. Installing A1 in the first slot and B1 in the third slot will give you two RAM sticks.

4. Reassemble everything and turn the CPU back on at this point.

5. Finally, check that Dual Channel Mode is operational by going to CPU-Z.

Run a Benchmark Test

When you run a benchmark test, you can determine how well your own RAM is working and if the update was successful. Additionally, you might assess how your PC functions with and without the XMP profile activated.

You can use any trustworthy third-party program to conduct a benchmark test. UserBenchMark, Maxxmem2, AIDA64, and many more are examples of well-known apps. In the following steps, we've utilized UseBenchMark as an example tool:

1. To begin with, get the free app from their website which is official.

2. After that, run the software and confirm that the Memory checkbox is selected under the Component to Benchmark option.

3. After that, press the Run button, then watch for the benchmark to finish.

4. The tool generates performance data for your PC after the test, comprising the PC Status, Processor, Graphics, Boot Drive, Memory, and OS version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I need to reinstall my operating system after upgrading RAM?

No, you do not have to reinstall your computer's operating system after upgrading your RAM. The software and data on your computer are unaffected by RAM upgrades; your computer's Memory is affected.

Q. What are the common problems that might occur after upgrading your RAM?

After updating RAM, common problems include problems with compatibility, overheating from insufficient cooling, and improper installation when using new RAM.

It's crucial to carefully follow the instructions of the manufacturer and hence confirm that the new RAM is appropriate for your machine.

Q. How do I know if I need to upgrade my RAM?

If you frequently suffer slowdowns or crashes while running numerous apps or cannot execute some programs because of low Memory, you might need to update your RAM.

Suppose you want to confirm that you continuously utilize less than 100% of the RAM on your computer. In that case, you may check the memory consumption in the Activity Monitor (Mac) or Task Manager (Windows).

Final Thoughts

Your machine might have more life if you add more RAM to it. Many apps will function more smoothly, and responses and processing times may seem to be happening much faster. To prevent damage, it's crucial to install everything correctly.

DUE TO HARDWARE CONSTRAINTS, some RAM speeds will be constrained even with the ideal configuration. Before attempting the switch, check that everything is compatible.