Dell Inspiron 14 5405 RAM Upgrade

Introduction

Adding additional RAM to this laptop is rather simple since Dell opted to not solder in the ram and left an additional slot unoccupied.

To add RAM all we have to do is open up the laptop, find the unoccupied slot, put the RAM in and close it again.

While opening your devices always comes with a small risk of damaging them, this upgrade is pretty beginner friendly and if you’re cautious, chances of your device or you being hurt are really low.

What you need

Step 1 RAM Upgrade

Dell Inspiron 14 5405 RAM Upgrade, RAM Upgrade: step 1, image 1 of 2

Dell Inspiron 14 5405 RAM Upgrade, RAM Upgrade: step 1, image 2 of 2

Using a Philipps head screw driver remove all screws marked with a green ring.
Also loosen the ones with an orange ring as far as possible. (They are the two screws closest to the hinges of the screen) Since these are retaining screws, they should not come out completely
If one (or both) do come out, that's no big deal. Just make sure to find and remove the metallic ring that was supposed to hold them in.

Edit

Step 2

Using a plastic prying tool (or guitar pick) go around the fringe of the device to open the plastic clips holding it together.
It is easiest if you start at the display hinge next to one of the retaining screws.
If you've never opened these kinds of clips before, you may need a bit more force than you're comfortable with.

Edit

Step 3

Carefully lift up the back cover of the laptop.
You will need a bit of force to unclip this plastic thing that attaches to the back of the device. (Marked with an arrow in the picture.)

Edit

Step 4

Once you're in the machine, lift up the outer part of this rubber covering to reveal the unoccupied RAM slot.
Now put in your ram.
It is only possible to seat it in the correct orientation because of a small non-symmetrical indentation in both the slot and the ram.
You may need to bend these little metal arms out a bit to get the ram to fit in.
Dell has also provided a small instruction using pictographs on the rubber covering.
When the RAM is properly seated, you will hear it "click" into place.

Edit

Step 5

Put the back cover back on but don't yet close the plastic clips or screw in the screws.
Firstly, boot up the computer while hitting F2 to open the BIOS configuration.
Check if the detected memory matches with what you have installed.
If it doesn't, you may have to take out the ram and put it back in again, making sure it really is all the way in.
Turn off the computer by hitting the power key.