I was wondering if someone could help me with installing some RAM. I just bought a 512 mb thing of RAM and have no idea how to install it. Can anyone give me step by step instructions or tell me a link to a site with them?
Thanx :)

1. You open up the computer
2. you make sure everything is off and that you are grounded
3. You find the place on the motherboard where the other RAM chips are (the motherboard is the BIG chip that holds all the little ones)
4.There should be two little plastic things on each end of the RAM slot, open them up.
5. Put your RAM in the slot until the plastic thingies snap shut to hold it in place
6.close up everything and power up
7. your computer should automatically detect the RAM (look on startup or in options).
8. Congrats! you have just installed your first RAM chip.

HOw do u ground it?

well.. if you have no static electricity on you, then grounding is not really neccessary.

p.s. impossible at my location

Ground yourself

Another idea is to use a metal object like a key and touch other metal things first with key. This will cause the spark to fly from the key and not your finger. That is much more comfortable. You can also use a ring or even a thimble to move the shock from your finger to the metal object.

One more thing to do is to try to ground yourself before touching another person or something metal. You can touch a wall or wooden table or something. Another way is to use a ring or a key and touch something metal. Let the spark fly that way instead of off your finger.
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/staticcont.htm
and a more scientifical information on static electricity @ http://www.electrostatics.com/page2.html

basicly the static *might* damage a chip on the RAM, but to be honest, you'll be fine unless you start running across the shag carpeting in a bin bag whilst holding the RAM :P

Hey. THanx heaps. I managed to install the RAM wif no worries. Thanx for ur help :)

When I bought my last stick of RAM I touched it on the connector bit without grounding, I think its pretty unlucky if you damage something with static.

yeah, well i frequently take my processor out, clean it with isoproply and a scouring pad....no problems!

***Shudder***
I need to know which type of RAM will be compatible with my motherboard. I'll just find out what model it is.

As I mentioned something similar previously in another RAM thread (which was slightly different to this one thats why they aren't merged).

If you can't find any options in your BIOS to alter the RAM from Non-ECC to ECC then the likelihood is that your RAM will be Non-ECC. You just have to make sure you get the RAM with the right number of pins and also check your Motherboards documentation for what speed it can do.

You have to also check for any CMOS Flashes for that motherboard because sometimes the CMOS has additional programming that extends the hardware parameters beyond the original "Tested" hardware. (Simply an update could allow greater RAM size, higher processors and even better overclocking if you are into that).

Most motherboards should be found at their Manufacturers site, just see if you can find the motherboards Production number (i.e. A-Bit BH6 v1.1, ECS K7S5A etc.)
Note in the example one has a Version number, this is because that particular motherboard had two production lines and one was slightly tweaked in comparison to the other being slightly newer, so they actually have two different CMOS Flashes.

***Shudder***
I need to know which type of RAM will be compatible with my motherboard. I'll just find out what model it is.


Go here and it will tell you what type of RAM you'll need:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=l&q=http://www.qksrv.net/click-1192196-5032657&ai=A4z-E8fhqBldzjILxwGgqa25nCcIw5Kw28v9BnLsgGsQAQ6ktcGAkH zSACEAmWAAAAAAABAAAJnTA


Go to second page to where it will ask you to do this:

FREE Memory Advisor Report
To get a FREE Memory Advisor Report specific to your computer, start by choosing your computer's manufacturer from the Crucial Memory Advisor menu below.