How to Check Your RAM Type in Windows - Make Tech Easier

If you plan to upgrade your RAM or test its performance, it is important to know your RAM type. This means that your laptop or PC needs to be evaluated to determine the DDR module it supports, as well as other details like the form, speed and capacity of RAM. This tutorial shows how to check RAM types using various Windows applications and third-party tools in Windows.

Table of contents

• Check RAM type via command prompt
• Check RAM type in Windows via Task Manager
• Check RAM Type in PowerShell
• Check RAM type using CPU-Z
• Check RAM type using Novabench
• Check RAM type by visually checking the motherboard

Check RAM type via command prompt

If you want to check the RAM type in Windows via a command prompt, it usually means determining if your motherboard supports DDR3, DDR4, or DDR5 RAM. Use the following command in administrator mode:

 <code>wmic memorychip get SMBIOSMemoryType</code>

A value of "20" or above means that you have DDR memory. "21" refers to DDR2, "24" represents DDR3, "26" represents DDR4, and finally "34" represents DDR5.

There are many other commands that start with wmic memorychip get. For example, running the command wmic memorychip get speed will give the speed in megahertz.

Just remember one extra command to get the remaining RAM details. This will display a complete set of RAM type data:

 <code>wmic memorychip list full</code>

In this example, 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 PartNumber and Serial Number for each RAM stick.

The RAM configuration runs in Interleaved mode , which means it is the same dual-channel RAM setting. The Form factor value is "12". If you look online, you will find that "12" refers to SODIMM, a type of RAM that is commonly used in laptops. Other common form factors include 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", which is a non-ECC memory module. If your motherboard is ECC compatible, the starting value is "72".

Check RAM type in Windows via Task Manager

If you are evaluating a new Windows computer for purchase, you can use Task Manager for quick RAM testing. You can open it by right-clicking on the bottom taskbar or using Ctrl Shift Esc .

Go to Performance -> Memory and check all relevant RAM details. Find out the RAM speed, form, memory type, memory size, and the number of RAM slots used.

In the following example, the RAM speed is 2667 MHz, in the form SODIMM, and both slots are in use.

Tip : Windows Task Manager has many other uses besides checking hardware resources. You can also use it to solve the problem of 100% CPU usage.

Check RAM Type in PowerShell

Since all Windows Command Prompt commands can be run in PowerShell, you can use the wmic memorychip command of any command prompt to detect RAM type details. They will return the same result.

In addition, PowerShell supports its own cmdlets, alias, and Windows environment variables. For example, you can use the "Get-WmiObject" environment variable to get the complete RAM type information.

 <code>Get-WmiObject Win32_PhysicalMemory | Format-List *</code>

In addition to detailed information about RAM capacity, manufacturer, part number, and serial number, the PowerShell command provides additional information about your RAM, such as:

• ConfiguredClockSpeed : RAM speed in megahertz
• ConfiguredVoltage : RAM voltage in millivoltages
• SMBIOSMemoryType : DDR type

By the way : PowerShell cmdlets can run powerful script-based tasks. They can even be used to remove bloat software from your Windows computer.

Check RAM type using CPU-Z

In third-party applications, CPU-Z is one of the most reliable applications for checking RAM types in Windows. It is easy to download and install, has a portable version, and does not overheat your CPU.

Whether you use the installer or the ZIP file, once CPU-Z is open, go to its Memory tab. Under the General section, you will find information about Memory Type , such as DDR4 or DDR5. You will also find some interesting details like DRAM frequency and latency, and whether your RAM is single/dual.

For more information, go to the SPD tab to get slot information for each RAM module. Find specific information such as Max bandwidth , Module Manuf. , DRAM Manuf. , and Week/Year to get the manufacturing date. If your RAM supports ECC, you will find additional information under Correction .

By the way : In addition to CPU-Z, there are other RAM performance evaluation tools, such as MemTest64, PassMark Performance Test and AIDA64 Extreme.

Check RAM type using Novabench

When upgrading a computer, our goal is usually to benchmark RAM with the best on the market. This is where tools like Novabench come in handy. It is easy to download and install and provides instant test results for 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 , which will immediately calculate how your RAM type compares to your best performance.

Check RAM type by visually checking the motherboard

seeing is believing! If you open the Windows motherboard, you can see the supported RAM specifications on the device. If you are using a new laptop, doing so may void the manufacturer’s warranty, but you can’t bypass this if you plan to replace or upgrade your RAM stick.

The motherboard memory slot provides you with supported RAM types (DDR4 in this case) and RAM forms (SODIMM only here). You can also get additional details such as manufacturer name, serial number, part number, and pin type (DIMM B or DIMM A).

It's worth mentioning : Enabled dual-channel RAM on the motherboard requires some precautions, as shown in our guide.

After checking the RAM type in Windows, find out the maximum RAM capacity your device supports, which is closely related to the type of RAM you need. Also learn how to detect RAM health on your PC to avoid configuration errors.

Image source: Unsplash. All images are taken by Sayak Boral.

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