Increasing the amount of RAM in your computer can make a noticeable difference in its performance.  RAM does not actually make the computer run faster, but it does help quicken the process of opening or switching between applications and can help you avoid the awkward pause between the time you click an application’s icon and when it actually launches.  The good news is, RAM is INNEXPENSIVE and there’s really no disadvantage to upgrading, even if its just to cover your bases.

You can buy Apple RAM from any Apple retail store or at the Apple Store online, but RAM that comes from Apple is, in my opinion, severely overpriced.  However, Apple compatible RAM is available at many companies online for a fraction of the price.  My absolute favorite place to buy Apple compatible RAM is Crucial.com.

In addition to cheap RAM, Crucial has the ‘Crucial System Scanner Tool’ which is a little program that you download on your computer which analyzes your system and decides what type of RAM you need, how much your computer can handle and makes recommendations on configurations. Awesome!  Its like having a Mac Genius right in your computer!  If you’d prefer to pick your own, there is also a function for doing so.

The only downside to this process, and it’s a very small downside, is that you have to install the RAM yourself.  Being a third party product, the RAM, itself, is not covered under your Apple Care on your Mac, BUT since RAM is one of the only parts of an Apple that is intended to be ‘user accessible’ replacing the RAM does not affect your Apple Care on the rest of the machine at all.

On the iMac, there’s a Memory Access Panel on the bottom of the screen which will give access to the RAM.  Lay the iMac down on its screen and raise the stand up, you’ll see the panel on the bottom and can remove it with a Phillips screwdriver.  Inside you’ll see some tabs used for pulling out the RAM tray.  Pull it out, and make a note of which way the RAM is facing, you’ll need to put the new ones back in this same position, fortunately, RAM can only fit in one way and if you’re observant, you’ll have no problems.  Remove the old RAM and insert the new and push the tray back in until you feel/hear a click.  (Just a warning, you might have to push those a little harder than you’d expect to, but make SURE the RAM is facing the right way.)  Tuck in the tabs and replace the door.

On most notebooks the RAM is underneath the battery that is accessible through a panel on the bottom of your notebook.  Since the notebook configurations vary greatly depending on your model and year, I recommend going to support.apple.com and searching for “replace RAM on <yourcomputermodel>” so you know you get the right instructions.  The process is just as simple, I assure you.

Now you’re probably wondering what to do with your old RAM, assuming you’ve got old RAM that didn’t get included in the new configuration.  Well, I find they make really interesting key fobs or earrings.  If you glue a magnet to the back, you could stick it to your fridge!  If you don’t have another computer that it will work in, it is practically useless, so feel free to be creative with it while enjoying the speed and efficiency of your new RAM.

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