If you've bought yourself the Dell Latitude E7440 a few years back and are still using it to this day then there's a pretty good chance that you've reached its limits in terms of multitasking capabilities. This particular model shipped with either 4GB or 8 GB of RAM back in 2014 but allows you to upgrade the RAM all the way to 16 GB, breathing new life into the laptop and allowing you to work with a snappier, more efficient machine.
Today we're going to walk you through everything you need to know in order to upgrade the RAM on the Dell Latitude E7440. No need to worry, it's a relatively easy procedure that you should be able to wrap up in under 5 minutes. Let's get cracking!
Dell Latitude E7440 RAM Upgrade Step-by-step
What RAM can I use on the Dell Latitude E7440? How much RAM does it support?
First off, before we go in and grab our screwdriver you're going to need to make sure you're using a compatible RAM module. Specifically, the E7440 supports PC3-12800 DDR3 204-Pin SODIMM memory type. That's a DDR3 RAM module. It's not a very popular RAM these days so you want to make sure you purchase the right module.
As far as the amount of RAM supported, much like the Dell Latitude E7450 RAM upgrade we covered a few days back, you can go all the way up to 16 GB of RAM, with two slots available that support 8 GB of RAM each.
How much RAM should I get?
If you come from a model that features 4 GB you could jump to 8 GB by buying two compatible 4 GB modules of RAM. This would double your current RAM but depending on your needs it might not be enough. The best course of action to make the absolute most out of the E7440 would be to upgrade to 16 GB through two compatible 8 GB modules of RAM.
If you're coming from an 8 GB model then you're definitely going to want to go with another 8 GB of RAM.
Should I replace the onboard RAM?
Yes. You want to make sure both RAM sticks are identical in voltage, cas, clock-speed, and a slew of other things so it's always recommendable to upgrade both units whenever you're planning to upgrade the RAM on a laptop. That's the reason why most manufacturers sell the RAM in kits of two identical modules.
Step-by-step tutorial on upgrading the memory on the E7440
Step 1: Turn off your laptop. Afterwards place the laptop upside down and remove the battery. After that, you're going to unscrew the two screws located on the sides below the laptop and pull the back cover so that you can access the components.
Step 2: You're going to see the two available RAM slots. One of them features the onboard RAM whilst the other one is empty. You're going to pull on the sides of the occupied RAM slot in an outward direction to release the current RAM. It will rise at a 45-degree angle.
Step 3: Grab the RAM modules you've bought and place them upside down at a 45-degree angle until you hear a click. To know which side is up all you have to do is see that both the notch on the RAM slot and the notch on the RAM module are aligned, which means you've placed the RAM correctly.
Step 4: Press the RAM down and you'll hear another click from the clasps that mean the RAM is properly attached. Place the back cover on again and screw it to the laptop. Insert the battery.
Step 5: Turn your laptop on. Go to "Device configuration" and you should see a line that reads "Installed RAM" there you should see either 8 GB or 16 GB depending on the RAM you've upgraded, though we really hope you end up upgrading to 16 GB if you're an intensive multitasker.
And that's it. You've managed to open up your Dell Latitude E7440 and upgrade the memory successfully. Pat yourself in the back and enjoy the newfound freedom of having a quick and responsive laptop once again. It'll feel like you're working with a completely different machine.