Extra RAM in laptop... how to install?

mikeyboy

Hello,

I have purchased a laptop but want to add extra ram. My laptop is an Acer and apparantly has capacity for upto 2Gb of RAM.

I currently have 1Gb of RAM but want to increase this upto the 2Gb. How easy is it to install additional RAM? is it something i can do myself or do i need to seek proper help from a computer shop.

How much is 1Gb of additional RAM approx? will this make a significant difference to running applications on the laptop??

Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks in advance
Mikeyboy

CHR15

You would need to check for the specifics of the memory for your laptop with somwhere like

https://www.crucial.com

Your manual will tell you what type it is too so you could just look in there.
You should shop around once you know what you want.
1Gb could cost just over £20 plus delivery:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/118515

Fitting it is easy, there will be a small cover over the memory slots on the underside of your laptop (precisley where is dependant upon your model but there aren't many covers there)

mikeyboy

Cheers, I have looked up the specific model on crucial site the link is:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Aspire+5050

I am still a little confused, i have presently got installed 2 x 512mb of ram, so not sure how to proceed as there are only two slots in total?

Will i need to remove on of the 512 from a slot and put in a gig of ram there?

Thanks again, sorry for being so dopey!

£$&*"($£&(

You might have to have matched pairs in the memory slots so you might have to take out both. If you want 2gb you'll have to do this anyway and put 1gb into each slot.

John_Gray

Actually, you will have to remove both 512 MB memory cards and replace each with a 1 GB memory card.

Unless you want to do something very memory-intensive, 512 MB is usually quite adequate for running XP. 1 GB should be more than enough. 2 GB would not improve throughput much more.

John

Al64

Unfortunately you will need to remove both the 512 sticks and get 2 replacement 1 Gb Sticks. It is possible that you could get a single 1Gb and use with one of the existing 512Mb sticks giving 1.5Gb but I can't get to the FAQ link to see if the laptop would accept this - this is the UK link for the memory

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Aspire+5050

mikeyboy

Thanks for all your replies!

The laptop is a brand new Acer 5052AWXMi, AMD Turion 2.2Ghz unit. It currently has 1Gb of ram (2x 512) and is running Vista

Would the extra 1Gb of ram make a really noticable difference in the running of day to day applications (mainly MS office) and would it be worth the money
??

Thanks Mike

CHR15

I suppose it is down to what you are using the machine for.

If all you are doing is the odd emails, documents etc then probably not.

If you are having a few progs running (browsing, emails, documents etc) then perhaps.

I wouldn't get the extra if it would financially push me, but if I had some spare cash, then I would.

In Vista

Right click on the taskbar at the bottom

Click Task Manager

Click the Performance Tab

Have a look at your memory loading (mine is 830MB with 2GB installed)

check the Resource monitor when you are using your machine. That will also tell you what kind of loading you are putting on the installed RAM.

If this remains at less than 50% of your installed RAM, then I wouldn't worry too much.

If this goes over 50% for a lot of the time, then the extra RAM would be worth it.

Just don't go assuming and extra 1Gig will make Vista fly along to way XP did!!