From the specs provided by Acer, I know that my all-in-one ZS600 touchscreen computer had just 4GB RAM, but could take 8GB. Even better, one slot was empty. (Usually both slots are filled for better memory performance.)
But adding the RAM is not just a case of undoing a couple of screws and sliding a panel. Fortunately, I found the repair manual online. Here are photos I took that show you how to remove the back of the computer.
You will need:
- pliers
- phillips screwdriver (I use a cordless screwdriver)
- jewelers screwdrivers: phillips and flat
- optionally, a magnet. (My pliers are magnetic)
- box in which to place the 22 screws (my screwdriver box has compartments)
1. Remove the plastic cover covering the hinge of the stand. Here is where I used the pliers to squeeze the cover until it popped loose. See figure below.
2. Remove the three screws holding the stand to the body. The middle screw is a tight fit, and so I used a jewellers screwdriver, which was thin enough to get between the hinge springs.
Once the stand is removed, there are two more screws to remove.
3. Use a paperclip to open the DVD drive.
4. Remove the plastic bezel (front) of the DVD drive with your hand. It is merely clipped onto the drive. (In a later step, you use the opening of the DVD drive to start removing the cover.)
5. Close the drive by pushing it back into the body.
6. Remove the two phillips screws that are visible in the main body.
7. Along the back of the stand are five more screws. Remove the rubber coverups (they are glued in) with a small flat screwdriver, and then remove the five screws. The photo below shows one of the main body screws, and two of the stand screws.
8. Now it is time to remove the cover, which is clipped in. Begin where the DVD drive is: reach in and pull away the cover.
Repeat on the opposite side of the case. Repeat where the case becomes the back of the stand. I found the stand part the toughest, but mild force works eventually.
9. Remove the 12 screws that hold the metal shielding over the motherboard. Here is where the magnet comes handy, for some of these screws might fall into crevices.
Also covered by separate metal shielding is the hard drive (near the top of the photo), the DVD drive (near the bottom), and the fan (in the center.) At this point you could replace the hard drive, if you wish.
10. You now see the RAM slots. This computer uses notebook RAM: DDR3-1600/PC3-12800. Touch some metal before adding the new RAM card.
The mother board has a spare PCI slot (at the bottom of the photo), and I suspect that this is where the nVidia graphics board would go. I haven't investigated what kind of special connector would be needed to connect it to the built-in LCD screen; maybe another time.
There are two more slots available: a spare SATI connector for a third drive, but there is no obvious place inside the case to locate the drive. And a MiniCard2 slot (another form of PCI slot).
12. Reassemble the computer.
Bonus Tip
In an earlier posting, I complained that this computer's USB v3 port did not provide power when the computer was turned off. It turns out that there are two USB v3 ports, and that only one provides power at all times -- the one located closer to the SD Card slot.
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