To install a memory in a desktop computer, we will need to open its case. Depending on your computer model, a suitable screwdriver will be needed. Sometimes the chassis is made in such a way that you would need to push some button in order to open it. That makes things simpler, but you will always have to open the front panel of the computer case and unscrew the side covers holding the plates.

After you have managed to remove the side covers or to open the computer case, you will see a view like this…

You see the inside of a Dell Optiplex desktop computer here. It is called as a small-form factor PC. All the devices in this computer are compact and packed in a very small space.

This is the picture of a RAM module in the motherboard.

In other words, in order to install a memory in a desktop computer, you will need to access the motherboard, extract the memory from them and add more memory.

We have already found the memory, i.e. RAM. It looks like a plastic strip with a few chips on it. Just make sure that the computer is turned off when you are taking out the memory module, and it is a better idea to just remove the power cable from the mains socket. Modern desktop computers are operated by electronic switches, which means it is very likely that there is still current flowing inside a computer that has been powered off from the mains. This small amount of power is enough to keep the computer’s power button working.

The memory module is held by 2 grips, one on either side. They need to be pushed out from the slot, as shown in the image.

After that, we just need to pull the memory module out. Usually, you can pull this out easily without any additional force.

We have a memory module here, which is a DDR module. There are 3 kinds of DDR modules. To find out which memory type is present in your computer, you could use a free program named SIW. You can get this program here.

To install the memory, you will simply need to push the memory module into the slow. Then push back the grips inwards.

The side of the memory module should look like this…

So that’s it. We have installed a memory module into the motherboard and our computer is now ready to be powered on. Just one more thing—it is always a good idea to test memory, in other words RAM, with a special program like MemTest. Memories can develop faults sometimes.