Adding memory sticks is a great way to increase the speed of your computer. However, what if your PC is slower after installing more RAM? Here this tutorial on MiniTool Software explains why computer slow after RAM upgrade and collects several useful approaches to assist you in resolving this issue.
Why Computer Slow After RAM Upgrade
Memory sticks play a vital role in the hardware configuration of a computer and are directly related to the computer’s running speed and performance. Larger memory capacity helps ensure the high-speed operation of the computer and prevents the computer from lagging or even crashing due to insufficient memory.
However, some users find that the computer is still running slowly after upgrading RAM. Here is an example:
“Hello! After upgrading my laptop's RAM from 8 GB to 16 GB it started running slower. I tried reinstalling the 8 GB stick, like the way it was before, and it got better but in games, I kept having a lot of stuttering. I tried running a memory test but it said that everything was okay.”answers.microsoft.com
According to the investigation, this problem is related to the incompatibility of the memory module, insufficient computer hardware configuration, outdated graphics card driver, and so on. Listed below are some measures you can take to address the issue.
How to Fix if PC Slower After Installing More RAM
Solution 1. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Installing an incompatible memory module may not only cause the computer to run slowly but may also cause computer startup problems, such as a black screen, blue screen, etc. To rule out this cause, you can run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test and optimize your computer’s RAM performance.
Step 1. Press the Windows + R key combination to open Run.
Step 2. Type mdsched and hit Enter.
Step 3. Save your current work and restart your computer now to check the memory problems. Alternatively, you can choose to check the memory the next time your computer starts.
In addition, it is recommended that you choose memory sticks from big brands. Memory from major brands has undergone strict compatibility testing, and compatibility is guaranteed.
Solution 2. Make Sure the Graphics Card Driver Is the Latest Version
An outdated or corrupted graphics card driver is associated with various computer problems, including the PC slow boot after RAM upgrade issue. So, you need to make sure the graphics driver is up to date. Follow the steps below to update your graphics driver:
Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and choose Device Manager.
Step 2. Expand the Display adapters category, then right-click on your graphics card and choose Update driver.
Step 3. Choose to install the downloaded driver or let Windows automatically search for the appropriate driver according to your actual situation.
Solution 3. Upgrade Your HDD to SSD
RAM isn’t the only factor that affects your computer’s speed. If your disk is a mechanic hard drive, you may consider upgrading it to a solid-state drive (SSD). SSDs have faster read and write speeds and can significantly increase computer speed.
To upgrade your HDD to SSD without reinstalling Windows, you can use MiniTool ShadowMaker, a disk cloning software, to clone HDD to SSD. This will copy all data on the mechanical hard drive to the solid-state drive.
Note that the system disk cloning feature is not free to use.
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After the disk cloning is completed, you can replace the old HDD with the configured SSD.
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Solution 4. Optimize Other Hardware Configurations
In addition to disk type and RAM, many hardware factors interfere with computer operation and startup speed, such as CPU frequency, motherboard bandwidth, etc. You can try to improve all hardware configurations.
Bottom Line
Reading here, we believe you already know what actions to take when facing the problem of “computer slow after RAM upgrade”. Hope the above methods can help you get rid of the issue.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Shirley graduated from English major and is currently an editor of MiniTool Team. She likes browsing and writing IT-related articles, and is committed to becoming a professional IT problem solver. The topic of her articles are generally about data recovery, data backup, and computer disk management, as well as other IT issues. In spare time, she likes watching movies, hiking and fishing.