If you’re planning to upgrade your RAM or test its performance, it’s important to know your RAM type. This means evaluating your laptop or PC for the DDR module it supports, as well as other particulars, such as RAM form factor, speed, and capacity. This tutorial shows how to check the RAM type in Windows, using various Windows apps and third-party tools.
How to Check RAM Type via Command Prompt
If you want to check your RAM type in Windows via Command Prompt, it typically means figuring out whether your motherboard supports DDR3, DDR4, or DDR5 RAM. Use the following command in administrator mode:
wmic memorychip get SMBIOSMemoryType
A value “20” and above would indicate that you have DDR memory. “21” refers to DDR2, “24” represents DDR3, “26” is DDR4, and finally, “34” stands for DDR5.
There are many other commands that begin with “wmic memorychip get.” For example, running the command “wmic memorychip get speed” will give you the speed in megahertz.
There’s only one more command to remember for the remaining RAM details. This will display a full set of RAM type data:
wmic memorychip list full
In this example, the Capacity is 17,179,869,184 bytes (equivalent to 16 GB). The Manufacturer code “859B” corresponds to “Crucial,” a brand of Micron. Also listed are the PartNumber and Serial Number for individual RAM sticks.
RAM configuration operates in Interleaved mode, which means it’s an identical dual-channel RAM setup. The Form factor value is “12.” If you look it up online, you’ll find that “12” refers to SODIMM, a type of RAM commonly used in laptops. Other common form factors are DIMM, RDIMM, and UDIMM.
Another important value is DataWidth, which refers to the number of bits in the memory module interface. This example shows “64,” a non-ECC memory module. If your motherboard is ECC-compatible, the starting value is “72.”
How to Check RAM Type in Windows via Task Manager
If you’re evaluating a new Windows computer for purchase, run a quick test for RAM using the Task Manager. You can open it from a right-click on the Taskbar at the bottom or by using Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Go to Performance -> Memory, and check all the relevant RAM details. Find out the RAM speed, form factor, type of memory, memory size, and the number of RAM slots in use.
In the following example, the RAM speed is 2667 MHz, the form factor SODIMM, and both the slots are in use.
Tip: the Windows Task Manager has many more uses, apart from checking hardware resources. You can also use it to solve the 100% CPU usage problem.
How to Check RAM Type in PowerShell
As all Windows Command Prompt commands work in PowerShell, you can detect the RAM type details using any of the “wmic memorychip” commands of the Command Prompt. They will return the same results.
Additionally, PowerShell supports its own cmdlets, aliases, and Windows environment variables. For example, you can use the “Get-WmiObject” environment variable to get full RAM type information.
Get-WmiObject Win32_PhysicalMemory | Format-List *
In addition to the details about RAM capacity, manufacturer, part numbers, and serial numbers, the PowerShell command provides extra information about your RAM, such as:
- ConfiguredClockSpeed: RAM speed in megahertz
- ConfiguredVoltage: RAM voltage in minivolts
- SMBIOSMemoryType: DDR type
FYI: the PowerShell cmdlets can run powerful script-based tasks. They can even be used to remove bloatware from your Windows computer.
How to Check RAM Type Using CPU-Z
Among third-party applications, CPU-Z is one of the most reliable apps to check your RAM type in Windows. It’s easy to download and install, has a portable version, and does not overheat your CPU.
Whether you use the installer or ZIP file, once CPU-Z opens, go to its Memory tab. Under the General section, you’ll find information on Memory Type, such as DDR4 or DDR5. You’ll also find some interesting tidbits, such as DRAM frequency and latency, and whether or not your RAM is single/dual channel.
For more information, though, head to the SPD tab for slotwise information on each RAM module. Look for particulars, such as Max bandwidth, Module Manuf., DRAM Manuf., and Week/Year for the date of manufacture. If your RAM supports ECC, you will find extra information under Correction.
FYI: apart from CPU-Z, there are other RAM performance assessment tools, such as MemTest64, PassMark Performance Test, and AIDA64 Extreme.
How to Check RAM Type With Novabench
While upgrading a computer, often our aim is to benchmark its RAM against the best in the market. This is where a tool like Novabench can help. It’s easy to download and install and gives you the instant results of your RAM type. You will find the memory size and memory type (DDR4, DDR5, etc.) on the home screen.
Further, go to Start all Benchmark tests -> Memory Test, and it will immediately calculate how well your RAM type fares against the best.
How to Check RAM Type Through a Visual Inspection of the Motherboard
Seeing is believing! If you open your Windows motherboard, you can see the RAM specifications supported on your device. It can void the manufacturer warranty if you’re on a new laptop, but you can’t really get around this method if planning to change or upgrade your RAM sticks.
The motherboard memory slots give you the supported RAM type (DDR4 in this example) and the RAM form factor (SODIMM-only here). You also get other details, such as manufacturer name, serial number, part number, and pin types (DIMM B or DIMM A).
Good to know: enabling dual-channel RAM in a motherboard involves some precautionary steps, as shown in our guide.
After checking the RAM type in Windows, find out the maximum RAM capacity that your device would support, which is closely related to the kind of RAM you need. Also learn how to detect the RAM health on your PC to avoid configuration errors.
Image credit: Unsplash. All images by Sayak Boral.
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