Find out what RAM type you have in Linux

By | July 15, 2009

To check what RAM memory type yo have installed (and also see other useful information about your system), do a

sudo dmidecode

Depending on the version of dmidecode you have installed and the hardware configuration you have, each hardware device will have a certain type number assigned t it. On my machine, the RAM has type 6. So to see what RAM type and speed you have, do a

sudo dmidecode –type 6

and the output will be something like

# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.3 present.

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
Socket Designation: ROW-0
Bank Connections: 1 0
Current Speed: 800
Type: DIMM SDRAM
Installed Size: 256 MB (Double-bank Connection)
Enabled Size: 256 MB (Double-bank Connection)
Error Status: OK

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16 thoughts on “Find out what RAM type you have in Linux

  1. Pingback: Want some hardware details? « Linux & Stuff

  2. T4L Post author

    @Nicu: cu placere. Faina si aplicatia ta – jos palaria. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Steve Pearce

    Great post, although on my Fedora 11 system I was unable to specify the hardware type by number. Also, dmidecode would not accept the -type argument, it needs to be –type.

    Running the following also works:

    # dmidecode -t memory

    You can replace “memory” with “processor”, “bios”, “cache” etc and it reports back correctly.

    Many thanks 🙂

    Reply
  4. Richard

    To reduce the mystery, it is useful to look at the manual page via command line entry
    ‘man dmidecode’

    Reply
  5. Jeff C.

    Another reason I’m glad I jumped out of Windoz and straight into Linux…

    Reply
  6. Pascal

    I like the output of lshw (you can add -c memory to restrict). I think it is more compact and readable.

    *-memory
    description: System Memory
    physical id: 2c
    slot: System board or motherboard
    size: 768MiB
    capacity: 1GiB
    *-bank:0
    description: SODIMM DDR Synchronous
    physical id: 0
    slot: DIMM 1
    size: 512MiB
    width: 64 bits
    *-bank:1
    description: SODIMM DDR Synchronous
    physical id: 1
    slot: DIMM 2
    size: 256MiB
    width: 64 bits

    Reply
  7. Alexei

    Sometimes you need type 7 instead of 6.
    typing “memory” is better indeed.

    Reply
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  12. Paul

    Glad you got out of windows? Windows might suck but you still need a screw driver! Is it a PC 2700? pc2100? pc3200? pc5300?
    You don’t need a screwdriver in Windows!

    In so many ways Linux is not as good as Windows. As much as I hate Windows Linux is not good enough! Or why do you always try to make us use Windows to use Linux! You will need a screwdriver or Windows to ascertain the ram. You will need a screwdriver for the install most likely. There is never enough time. (to do it right the first time) but there is always time to do it over again! When it comes to technology it is all or nothing. Nothing less and definitely nothing more!

    Not massive redundancy of half ass solutions that aggravate instead of solve the problem! Once installed, a lot of places will not allow a return your money if the chip comes back bad whether it was that way when you bought it or not. Get screwdriver first! or get screwed later! Unless you like using Windows:-(

    Reply
  13. rahul

    sudo dmicode –type 17
    gives you type as DDR2 also tell you if only one chip is there
    root@home-pc:~# dmidecode –type 17
    # dmidecode 2.9
    SMBIOS 2.4 present.

    Handle 0x002A, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
    Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0029
    Error Information Handle: No Error
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 1024 MB
    Form Factor: SODIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: DIMM 1
    Bank Locator: Bank 0/1
    Type: DDR2
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: Unknown
    Manufacturer: Not Specified
    Serial Number: Not Specified
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number: Not Specified

    Handle 0x002B, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
    Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0029
    Error Information Handle: No Error
    Total Width: Unknown
    Data Width: Unknown
    Size: No Module Installed
    Form Factor: SODIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: DIMM 2
    Bank Locator: Bank 2/3
    Type: DDR2
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: Unknown
    Manufacturer: Not Specified
    Serial Number: Not Specified
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number: Not Specified

    Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Doruletz

    ***************************************************************
    @Paul:
    Dude, your comment sucks. HOW CAN WINDOW$ EVER BE BETTER THAN LINUX?
    Window$ is for the uneducated masses that know very little to nothing about computers.
    (e.g – Neck of the woods Hill-billies, lonely Housewives and illiterate hipster kids – the rich segment of those will only use a Mac or iPad ’cause it’s cool).
    LINUX IS THE BEST. NO IFS OR BUTS.
    ***************************************************************

    The beauty of Linux is the multitude of choices and options for every task, big or small…
    Here is a comprehensive list of memory and other hardware related Terminal commands:

    Terminal Commands for Memory (RAM, BIOS-Motherboard, CPU and SYS) and other hardware:

    =========================================================================================================
    || Terminal Command || Description ||
    || (Copy-Paste in Terminal) || ||
    =========================================================================================================
    sudo dmidecode –type 17 || best for RAM only info ||
    sudo dmidecode –type 6 || also best for RAM only info ||
    sudo dmidecode –type memory | less || also best for RAM only info ||
    **************************************** || will give out lots of detailed info ||
    sudo dmidecode –type memory || also best for RAM only info ||
    sudo lshw -C memory || best for all memory info (RAM, CPU, MOBO, SYS) ||
    sudo lshw -short || also best for all memory info (RAM, CPU, MOBO, SYS) ||
    **************************************** || plus HDD, SSD, etc ||
    sudo lshw -class memory || also best for all memory info (RAM, CPU, MOBO, SYS) ||
    sudo dmidecode -t memory || will show memory info-data (RAM, CPU, MOBO, SYS) ||
    =========================================================================================================

    =========================================================================================================
    || NOT VERY HUMAN FRIENDLY OUTPUTS ||
    =========================================================================================================
    || Terminal Command || Description ||
    || (Copy-Paste in Terminal) || ||
    =========================================================================================================
    sudo lshw || will show a very long list of all hardware ||
    cat /proc/meminfo || will show a very long list of memory related data ||
    sudo dmidecode || will show a very long list of memory related data ||
    =========================================================================================================

    P.S. – (RO) Mul?umiri lui “T4L” “Nicu” pentru contribu?ia adus?.

    Reply

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