Open the Start menu and search for Command Prompt. Click Run as administrator. To get the full list of specs for the RAM on your PC, including things like memory type (such as DDR3 or DDR4), type wmic memorychip list full. You'll see all the available information for each RAM module on your PC.
Most consumer RAM modules will come with a label to identify the type of RAM it is. Typically, these labels will either be a sticker applied directly to the stick of RAM, engraved onto the fancy heat spreader on higher-performance modules, or may be printed directly onto the circuit board.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager. Or, right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager. Select the Performance tab and click Memory in the left panel. The Memory window lets you see your current RAM usage, check RAM speed, and view other memory hardware specifications.
Open the Start menu and search for Command Prompt. Click Run as administrator. To get the full list of specs for the RAM on your PC, including things like memory type (such as DDR3 or DDR4), type wmic memorychip list full. You'll see all the available information for each RAM module on your PC.
Check RAM Type
Open Task Manager and go to the Performance tab. Select memory from the column on the left, and look at the very top right. It will tell you how much RAM you have and what type it is.
How does DDR4 differ from DDR3 in appearance? Physically, a DDR4 module, or dual in-line memory module (DIMM), looks very similar to a DDR3 DIMM. However, DDR4 has 288 pins compared with DDR3's 240 pins; DDR4 SO-DIMMS have 260 pins instead of 204 in DDR3.
Check the BIOS
The computer BIOS will usually have a section for memory, which should show you details about the installed RAM. This typically includes the generation of DDR you're using, what size each module is and the speed at which it operates.
On average, Windows 11 uses about 4 GB of RAM.
However, if you have a lot of programs running at the same time, or if you are using resource-intensive programs, your computer will allocate more resources and up the RAM usage. One of the most popular new features in Windows 11 is the Widgets tab.
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Enter dxdiag, press Enter, and if prompted, click Yes to continue. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool opens and lists your graphics card under the Display tab.
Ultimately, DDR4 is faster than DDR3 RAM . It also offers more performance at a lower cost-per-dollar compared to any DDR3 RAM , except at its entry-level 1,600MHz.
Use The Task Manager
Click Ctrl + Shift + ESC at once on your keyboard. It will open the Task Manager for you. Then, go to the Performance tab and click Memory. That's where you will find the RAM speed of your PC.
Can You Mix Different RAM Brands? In short, the answer to this question is: yes. No matter the brand, speed, and size of the RAM, theoretically, you can mix and match RAM in your system, though it may prove to be problematic.
Conversation. Just to clarify DDR5 is not backwards compatible with DDR4, it's a completely different DIMM slot. There will be DDR4 and DDR5 Alder Lake motherboards, but you have to pick which memory type you want to use, this is very important information for those upgrading.
Which processors support DDR5 RAM? Currently, three generations of processors have support for DDR5 RAM. These include both the 12th and 13th generation of Intel Core processors, codenamed Alder Lake and Raptor Lake, respectively.
Given the difference in voltage requirements and other crucial modules, DDR5 RAM is physically incompatible with DDR4 slots. Because of this, you can't just swap out DDR4 for DDR5 RAM. Instead, you'll have to buy a new motherboard that specifically supports DDR5 RAM.
How can I tell if my Windows 10 computer is running DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, or DDR5 RAM? You can check the type of RAM installed on your Windows 10 computer by opening the Task Manager, clicking on the Performance tab, and then selecting the Memory option. The type of RAM will be listed under the “Speed” category.
It's easier to check which motherboard chipsets can work with DDR5 RAM rather than going through each specific model. As of 2023, the only chipsets that can use DDR5 RAM are the Intel 600 series which means chipsets like Z690, H610, and B660 can handle DDR5 RAM.