Give yourself 30 minutes for your first RAM upgrade

Closer to 30 minutes.

Ten minutes is what it takes if you’ve done it before, own a magnetic screwdriver, and your case is easy to open. First time, you’re going to watch a video, fumble with the clips, push harder than feels safe, and probably close the case only to open it again because you forgot to plug something back in.

The actual physical part — clicking the stick into the slot — takes maybe two minutes. But you also need to shut down, unplug, ground yourself, find the correct slots (check the motherboard manual), and hopefully not snap the DIMM in backward. That time adds up.

One tip: seat the stick firmly on both ends until the latches click. It takes more force than you think. If it doesn’t click, it isn’t in.

You’ll be done in half an hour. Future you will laugh at how nervous you were.