The most important factor to consider when upgrading a laptop's RAM is the architecture of the RAM, which determines the type, speed, and capacity of the memory modules. The architecture of the RAM must match the architecture of the laptop's motherboard and processor, otherwise the RAM will not be compatible or function properly. The architecture of the RAM includes the DDR generation (such as DDR3 or DDR4), the form factor (such as SO-DIMM), the pin count (such as
204 or 260), the voltage (such as 1.35V or 1.5V), and the frequency (such as 1600MHz or
2400MHz).