Check Ram Slot Available
When a user wants to add or upgrade memory (RAM) in a computer, they need to know how many memory slots are available. The following section helps you to determine the number of memory slots in your computer, and how many are used.
Not sure about Windows XP but in Windows 7 you could use the systeminfo (external) command, as per this ServerFault question.Except on my computer that command displayed way too much information, so here's how you could limit it to the relevant part only. Swapinfo -m or top (12th line) Memory: 826688K (466512K) real, 3096440K (2098204K) virtual, 176636K free Page# 1/17 or vmstat 5 55 (5th collumn). If you see the picture above, it has two RAM Slots and both are already occupied. It means the laptop currently doesn’t have space for an additional RAM stick. If you need to increase the RAM, you will have to replace existing RAM sticks with higher ones, for example replace 4 GB sticks with 8 GB to make the total to 16 GB.
Windows Task Manager
The easiest solution for Windows users is to open the Windows Task Manager.
- Press the Windows key, type Task Manager, and then press Enter.
- In the window that appears, click the Performance tab (A), then select Memory (B).
- In the lower-right corner, the number of slots is displayed in the Slots used: section (C).
- As you can see, this computer has a total of four memory slots, although only two are currently being utilized.
Use the CPU-Z utility
Another way to get information about memory slots and details about the RAM currently installed on your computer, is to use the free CPU-Z third-party utility.
- Open an Internet browser and visit the CPUID website.
- On the left side of the screen, select your operating system.
- On the next page, select your preferred language.
- On the next screen, click the DOWNLOAD NOW! button.
Check Ram Slot Available Slot
- Once the download has finished, install it from your browser and open the program.
Check Ram Slot Available Drivers
- Click the SPD tab at the top of the screen, and then click the down arrow in the Memory Slot Selection section.
- As you can see in the image above, all of the memory slots are listed on the drop-down menu.
If you select a different slot from the drop-down menu, CPU-Z will tell you additional information about the RAM that is installed.
Examine the motherboard
Sometimes the best way to determine the available memory slots is to open the computer and examine the motherboard. Opening the computer is the best option if were unable to get the Windows Task Manager or CPU-Z to work.
Looking inside the case, the motherboard is the primary large circuit board. On most motherboards, the memory slots are on either side of the CPU, and resemble what is shown below.
Most computer motherboards have two, three, or four memory slots. Some higher-end motherboards have as many as eight. The above motherboard picture above has no memory modules installed in any of its three slots.
NoteIf your computer has no memory slots available and you want to upgrade, you must remove and replace some of the existing memory.
Additional information
- See our memory definition for further information and related links.
Check Ram Slot Available Options
The answer is to command the power of WMI in Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility!
WMIC is bundled with Windows XP and above (including the latest Windows 7). For those who are not using Windows XP and above, try to look for motherboard / memory utilities. Please share if you know of any.
I know there are 4GB RAM in my Core 2 Duo Desktop at home, but I can’t remember how many memory module or the size of each RAM installed to the memory slots.
I try to download the latest ASUS PC Probe II V1.04 (for P5B-Plus Vista Edition motherboard) but it does not work with Windows 7 64-bit, as ASUS driver download site said it works up to Windows Vista 64-bit :-(
Of course open the casing and take a look is not much effort, but why I have to do “dirty work” if there is an easier way to find out in no time?
So, here is this WMIC command I used to find out the number of RAM slot in used and the size of each RAM module in the memory slots.
1) Open the Command Prompt window and execute the following sample. I have tested this sample in both Windows 7 and Windows Vista and confirm there is no need of using Command Prompt with elevated privilege.
2) Run this WMIC command
The easiest way of remember this WMIC command is simply type
wmic /?
to find out more information. For this particular case, you can shorten the WMIC command for a lengthy output, e.g. wmic memorychip
output all information related to memory detected by WMI.As you can see, there is no need to install additional program, writing a Windows Shell Script or PowerShell script, etc. If you’re using Windows XP and above, the bundled WMIC does the job well.
Check Ram Slot Available App
re: Use WMI To Find Out RAM Slot In Used And Memory Size Of Each Slot…not work with my XP SP3. I got â€MEMORYCHIP -Alias not found” and verified that no such alias by enquiry with “wmic /?”
This worked awesome on my X64 Windows 7 Laptop. Nice work. I can’t believe I have been an admin for so long and never ran across this command. Thanks.
I couldnt find “MEMORYCHIP” searching through wmic /? … some help please!
Awsome !
I’m developing a C++ app. to connect WMI, then
I used this as a reference to query cimv2 namespace, knowing the expected result for each device polled.
ThanksWMIC MEMORYCHIP shows only RAM slot in use. But how to show all RAM slots with their maximum available capacity?
You rock man. it works for win7 64bit.
Thanks,
Michael
Hi, in which unit is the capacity displayed? Thanks Dawie
It’s in byte.
absolutely awesome command,
works like a charm
Nice! No additional SW to install!
Thanks,
Ravi.Thank you Walker! Great command!
The best part is not having to reboot a user’s machine just to check the BIOS for this information.
I agree with Zdzich that how to find free slots of server that command only shows used slots.
wmic memphysical get memorydevices
shows the number of memory slots. Just deduct the number of used slots then you’ll find the remaining available unused slots.
To find out which slot is being used by memory cards installed, use this command:
wmic memorychip get capacity, devicelocator
Good luck!
Awesome! Just what I was looking for. This gives me lots of programming ideas with WMIC, too!
Thanks man!!This quick and simple solution made my day! Thanks for the tip!
Great!! Awesome!!!
Thanks! exactly what I was looking for.
How to find the DIMM empty slots ?
Motherboard WIC command :
wmic baseboard get product,manufacturer,versio,serial number
Great work thank you for your help. My job just go so much easier.:-)
This is an awesome job. Worked at once
Wonderful commands – works like charm!
Fantastic! Wow, i didnt know about this method at all. Genius. Thank you!
Note:in xp can use ‘mem’ command
hop this also usefulneed to find total slots available, if ram is not connected in one slot also.
can we do this somehow on a remote pc on the network?
ty
Type wmic /node:”computername” memorychip get banklabel,devicelocator,caption,capacity. Substitute the name of the remote computer for “computername” in the command.
Mike