How to Change Video RAM

If you love PC gaming or working with video editing software, not having enough video RAM (random access memory) on your PC is going to slow your favorite pastimes down to a crawl. Freezes, slow performance and annoying jerkiness will be a fact of life without enough memory. You can easily upgrade your video RAM with a new video card with on-board RAM, and from there your games and videos will run the way they should. You should only use the recommended brand and amount of video RAM for your computer or otherwise your PC will not run properly.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Video RAM card

1. Step 1

   Read your PC's manual to see what kind of video RAM you need. Make sure you know whether it uses 32 or 64 MB. The manual should tell you how much video RAM your PC can hold so that you can get the maximum amount.

2. Step 2

   Purchase the appropriate size video RAM card for your computer.

3. Step 3

   Turn on your PC and disable the virus protection. Create a system restore point so that if you have any problems after you install the video RAM, you can reset your software to the state it was in before the installation. See the Resources section of this article for guidance on how to create a system restore point.

4. Step 4

   Turn off your PC and unplug it from any peripherals. Remove the screws that hold the computer's case in place. Take off the case by sliding it to one side. Place it in a safe location.

5. Step 5

   Touch something metal that is not near your computer to ground yourself and discharge any static electricity that may harm your computer.

6. Step 6

   Look for the graphics card slot which may hold your video RAM. On a PC, it is located on the bottom left-hand side. Remove it by pushing the clips down and pulling it out.

7. Step 7

   Compare the old video card to your new card to make sure they look the same and all the notches line up together.

8. Step 8

   Insert your new video card where the old one was located by pressing it straight down into the holder until both of the side clips snap shut.

9. Step 9

   Slide your computer's case back into place and put the screws back in.

10. Step 10

    Plug your computer back in, plug the peripherals back into the computer and power it on. Your computer will have a pop-up box that will ask you to install software for the new hardware you've installed. Follow the instructions on the screen to load your new video RAM card software drivers.