How to Check the Maximum RAM Capacity of a Computer
Random Access Memory (RAM) is a critical part of your computer. Without it, your computer is as good as dead.
Your computer’s CPU uses RAM to store program data temporarily. It is ideal for this kind of processing because it is fast and easy to access compared to hard disks and other permanent storage media.
The more RAM a PC has, the better it can handle memory-intensive programs or multiple applications running simultaneously.
But how do you figure out the maximum amount of RAM your computer can use?
Why Upgrade Your System RAM?
Are your PC applications responding very slowly? Does your computer hang when you try and use more than a couple of programs? Then it could be a sign that you need more RAM. Also, consider upgrading your RAM if you intend to run memory-intensive applications such as virtualization software, image processing programs, PC games, etc.
You can check RAM usage on Windows usingTask Manager, while on Linux, you can useuse the top commandor htop to get an overview of RAM usage. Mac users can find their activeRAM usage in the Activity Monitor.
How to Check Maximum System RAM on Windows, Linux, and macOS
Before you upgrade your RAM, it is important to know how much RAM your PC hardware can support. You do not want to be in a situation where you purchase 16GB of RAM only to find out that your PC has 8GB maximum RAM capacity.
Depending on your operating system, here’s how to check the maximum RAM capacity that your PC can support.
Use thedmidecodecommand line utility to get information about your RAM on a Linux machine. The utility is available on all major Linux distros.
If you do not have dmidecode, you caninstall it using snapdor any other package manager. The advantage of snap is that it is distro agnostic.
Run the following command to install dmidecode using snap.
With dmidecode installed, you’re able to now check your RAM details by running the following command. You’ll need elevated privileges.
The output shows you the maximum RAM capacity and the number of chips. In this case, the PC has two RAM slots, with a maximum RAM capacity of 8GB RAM.
The dmidecode tool can be used to check other hardware details on your Linux PC. Check the man pages orExplainShellfor more usage details and examples.
Checking the maximum supported RAM on a Windows PC is relatively easy. First, open your Command Prompt (inputcmdinto your Start menu search and select the Best Match) and run the following command.
The output shows the maximum RAM capacity in Kilobytes (KB) and the total number of memory slots on your PC. Here you have a single RAM slot, and the maximum capacity you can install on this machine is a whopping 128GB.
For macOS users, you should check the recommended RAM chips, speed, and maximum RAM capacity on the Apple support website. For example, here’s an overview of memory specifications for theMac Pro (2019 model).
However, you could also check from within macOS, too.
Handily, some Apple hardware comes with theMemory Upgrade Instructionsoption, which will guide you through the process of upgrading your macOS RAM. Note that this option is only available on Apple hardware with upgradable RAM.
It is not so easy to upgrade RAM on the new M1 and M2 Macs because all components are soldered together to achieve better performance. Also, there are other upgrade limitations. For example, some M1 chips only support a maximum of 24GB RAM.
Upgrading Your PC RAM
On PCs with limited memory, upgrading your RAM means better speed and overall performance. Knowing the maximum supported RAM and the number of RAM slots on your PC will help you make informed decisions when upgrading RAM.
Upgrading your PC RAM is easier than you think.
Is your laptop running slow? A RAM upgrade could make your laptop feel much faster.
You’ve been quoting these famous films wrong all along!
Don’t let aging hardware force you into buying expensive upgrades.
Taming data is easier than it looks.
The fix was buried in one tiny toggle.
Revolutionize your driving experience with these game-changing CarPlay additions.
