How to Check and Test Your Laptop’s RAM: A Comprehensive Guide

Whether you're experiencing performance issues or simply want to ensure your laptop is running smoothly, checking and testing your RAM can be a crucial step. This guide will walk you through the process for different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Additionally, we'll show you how to use Windows Memory Diagnostic to test the integrity of your RAM. Follow these steps to ensure your laptop is optimized for maximum performance.

How to Check Your Laptop’s RAM

Windows

Method 1: Task Manager

Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager. Click on the Performance tab. On the left side, select Memory. Here you can see the total RAM used and other details.

Method 2: System Information

Press Windows R to open the Run dialog. Type msinfo32 and press Enter. Look for Installed Physical Memory (RAM) in the System Summary.

macOS

About This Mac

Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. Select About This Mac. In the Overview tab, you will see the amount of RAM listed. Alternatively, you can open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities, click on the Memory tab to see memory usage and details.

Linux

Using Terminal

Open a terminal window. Type free -h and press Enter to view the total and used RAM. For more detailed information, type cat /proc/meminfo.

These methods will help you quickly find out how much RAM is installed on your laptop.

Testing Your Laptop’s RAM

For a deeper dive into your RAM’s health, using Windows Memory Diagnostic is an excellent option. This built-in tool is designed to help you test the RAM without interrupting your day-to-day tasks.

Steps to Test Your RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic

Open Windows Memory Diagnostic by searching for it in the Start menu’s search bar. Then click “Restart now and check for problems”. Your PC will shut down, and you'll see the blue screen for a long time as Windows Memory Diagnostic searches for RAM issues. You can go off and do something else, but it's worth checking periodically in case the tool finds a problem. Once the test completes, you'll return to your desktop with the test results displayed automatically. If the test results don't appear, right-click on the Windows icon, then click “Event Viewer”. In Event Viewer, navigate to Windows Logs > System in the leftmost pane, then look in the “Source” column for an event named “MemoryDiagnostics-Results”. This will detail the test results in the pane at the bottom.

During the test, you have the option to:

Test Mix: Choose the type of test you want to run – Basic, Standard, or Extended. Cache: Select the cache setting you want for each RAM test: Default, On, or Off. Pass Count: Set the number of times you want to repeat the test.

Once the test is complete, your PC will reboot into a diagnostic environment. You can wait for the results, or you can press F1 to change the test options or let it run in the standard settings.

Checking and testing your RAM regularly can help you maintain optimal performance and prevent potential issues before they arise. Make it a part of your routine maintenance to ensure your laptop runs smoothly.