Before you buy a PC upgrade

Confirm your exact model

Before you buy
Use the exact PC or motherboard model to find the right manual.

Press Win + R, enter msinfo32, and look under System Summary for System Manufacturer and System Model. For a custom desktop, use the BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product entries to find the motherboard manual. If Windows shows a generic model, check your purchase receipt or the manufacturer’s label.

Find the CPU in Settings → System → About and the graphics adapters in Task Manager → Performance → GPU. On a system with multiple graphics adapters, select the one the game uses and check its total Dedicated GPU memory.

Check whether you can add RAM

Before you buy
Confirm the supported DDR generation, module format, and available slots.

1. Find the memory section in your PC or motherboard manual. Confirm the supported DDR generation, module format (such as DIMM or SO-DIMM), and capacity per slot and for the whole system.
2. Check which slots are occupied and whether the memory is replaceable. Some laptops have soldered memory, and some combine soldered memory with a replaceable module. The service manual for your exact model can tell you which configuration you have.
3. Compare your game’s RAM target with the configurations the manual supports. If the slots are already full, you may need to replace existing modules to reach that target. Check the manual’s supported speeds and slot order before choosing a kit.

Check whether a graphics card will fit

Before you buy
Check case clearance, power connectors, and dedicated video memory.

Laptop: Check the service manual for a replaceable GPU. Most laptop GPUs are built in. A desktop graphics card generally requires a desktop or a compatible external GPU setup.

Desktop: Check the exact card model against your system:

• Space: Compare the card’s length, height, and slot thickness with the case. Allow for fans, drive cages, and the power cable.
• Power: Check your power supply model and wattage against the card maker’s recommendation, and confirm it has the right power connectors.
• Motherboard: Confirm the slot and clearance in the manual. For small or prebuilt PCs, check for proprietary parts or chassis limits.
• Game requirements: Confirm both the GPU model and its dedicated VRAM. Two versions of the same card can have different amounts of memory.

Check which SSD fits your PC

Before you buy
Match the connection first. An M.2 NVMe drive needs a PCIe/NVMe slot and the right length. A 2.5-inch SATA drive needs a compatible bay and SATA connections.

Start with the SSD you already have. If it has enough room for the game, select it as the install drive. If you need another SSD, find the storage section of your exact PC or motherboard manual using the model above.

• M.2 NVMe: Look for an available M.2 slot that specifically supports PCIe/NVMe. Match the drive length to the slot (for example, 2280) and check clearance for any heatsink. M.2 describes the shape. Some M.2 slots support SATA, PCIe/NVMe, or both.
• 2.5-inch SATA: On a desktop, confirm you have a mounting spot, an unused motherboard SATA port and data cable, and a SATA power connector from the power supply. On a laptop, check the service manual for the bay, supported drive thickness, and any required bracket or ribbon cable.

Check whether the available slot is already occupied or shares connections with another drive. If your PC can only take one drive and it’s in use, plan how to migrate or back up your data before replacing it.

Kingston’s guide to SATA and M.2 SSDs