# Computer noob query about upgrading RAM
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 13, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339 "2005-12-13T00:38:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339/1 "2005-12-13T00:38:12Z")
How do I know what kind I need? I mean, I know how much I want, but when I go look for it at a computer site, I get a lot of guff about PC2700 RAM and PC3200 RAM and 400MHz vs. 330MHz speed vs. “X-treme speed” or various other proprietary shite.
What the heck is going on? I just want to double my RAM on a Dell XPS computer. How do I find out what kind of RAM I already have?
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339/2 "2005-12-13T00:59:18Z")
Dell provides a tool that will tell you what’s in the computer already. Should be listed on the Start menu somewhere.
Then, head to somewhere such as [Crucial](http://www.crucial.com) and drill down through the menus. Then, buy whatever they say you need.
How old is this XPS? I know that they at least used to use RAMBUS on the XPS series, and that was pretty expensive stuff.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339/3 "2005-12-13T01:16:16Z")
Download and run SiSoft Sandra; it will tell you what you currently have installed and what your system will additionally support.
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### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339/4 "2005-12-13T03:33:19Z")
Thanks, guys. You rock.
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### Author:  [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-noob-query-about-upgrading-ram/335339/5 "2005-12-13T13:57:23Z")
You could always pop the top off the machine and have a look at the chips already installed.