Since you shouldn’t have to open up the computer just to figure out what you have installed, here’s how to detect the type of memory your Linux PC has installed without having to open up the case.
Note: be sure to read our article on how to tell what type of memory your Windows PC has installed.
How to Show the Installed Memory
Open up a terminal window and type in the following command:
At the beginning of the output you’ll see the maximum memory size allowed by your PC, which is important—you can’t put two 4GB memory modules into a machine that only allows a total of 4GB of RAM.
Once you’ve scrolled down a little further, you’ll see the rest of the memory details for each piece of RAM that’s installed. Here’s a sample from one of my Linux boxes, and I’ve highlighted the important bits in bold text.
You’ll see that I’ve got DDR2-667 RAM installed on the system, so if I’m going to upgrade, I’ll need to find RAM that matches.
Other Options for Finding the Memory Type
Here’s a few other options that you can use:
You can look up the specs for your system to figure out what memory types your computer takes. I usually google for “modelnumber specs”, for instance I’d type in “nc8430 specs”. Pull out the manual for your computer or motherboard, and take a look at your receipts to figure out what you bought last time. If you built a computer with parts from Newegg, you can look at your order history to re-order the exact same memory module if you know you have empty slots. If you are running Mac OS X, you can just look under your “About this Mac” and then click on More Info.
If you’re running Windows instead, make sure to read our article on how to tell what type of memory your Windows PC has installed.
