All the programs in a computer are temporarily stored in a device known as Memory. Memory handles multiple programs to run at the same time in your laptop computer. The performance of Laptops having a slower processor can be enhanced by the laptop's memory. Near to the CPU, cache memory is available in some laptops to access data faster. Laptops have usually memory modules that are smaller to save space.

The performance of your laptop will be slowed down because of low memory. Therefore you need to upgrade your laptop's memory. Laptops as a rule are restricted to some extent in the capacity of the memory and upgrading may be difficult. While buying the laptop, such things should be considered so that you can plan for a memory upgrade later. Similar to Desktop PCs, you can buy with the basic configuration of your laptop with upgrade possibility and later can go for extra memory whenever needed. However some experts feel that upgrades for laptops are much more limited and complicated.

There are different types of memory available and you should choose the right memory that is compatible with your laptop. The types of Memory used in laptops are SDRAM (Single data rate Synchronous RAM), SODIMM (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module), DDR SDRAM (Dual Data Rate Synchronous RAM) or memory modules that are proprietary.

The memory capacity you need depends on your intended use of your laptop. The software that is to be used on the laptop has to be decided. There are certain minimum requirements for using various operating systems and usually it is preferable to have more memory than the minimum requirement in question. You should have typically 512MB of memory if you want to play games or create DVDs and videos. If you wish to use Microsoft Vista, then the recommended memory will be 1 GB. You can find a minimum of two slots for using extra memory on your laptop whereas three to four slots will be available on a typical desktop. Upgrades are limited in small or compact computers. When you plan to buy additional memory for your laptop computer, you have to know the maximum memory capacity that can be handled by your laptop. You can find this information with the product manuals. Usually, laptop models having single memory configuration can easily handle the upgrades than the double memory configuration. Therefore you have to know how your laptop is configured.

If you wish to install the additional memory, you need to know some tips. As memory is a delicate part, you should take care while handling it. Ensure that your laptop is powered off from the power source. For accessing the memory modules easily, some laptops have removable panels at the bottom. After locating this panel at the bottom, use a screwdriver to open the panel. The memory modules are seated in the slots and locked with small clips at the strip ends. You can remove the existing memory by pulling the memory modules gently after unlocking the strip clips. Place the new memory module firmly into the slot and clip the module at both ends of the strips. Close the panel of the laptop back in place with a screwdriver. You can power on the laptop to check for its working with the new memory module.