HP Pavilion laptop RAM and SSD specifications.
HP Pavilion laptop RAM and SSD specifications.
Hey there, newcomer! I’m just starting out with PC building and upgrades. I got an HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop recently—one of the 15-inch DK models. I’m planning to use it for productivity tasks like recording gameplay or editing videos. However, it only came with 8 GB of RAM. I really need more than that. I’ve read that there’s an extra memory slot available, but I’m not sure what type of RAM would fit. The current RAM is 2666 MHz. Should I just add another SODIMM stick at the same speed, or should I consider a faster upgrade? Also, I’m a bit confused about the M.2 slot—my laptop already has 256 GB of storage, but most of it’s taken up by Windows and other software. I’d like to add more SSD space, but again, I’m not sure how to check compatibility. Am I being too cautious? I thought it’d be smart to ask everyone before spending over $150.
Generally, most options should function. Combining different RAM types might not be ideal, but it could work if timings match. It's best to select a model with compatible timing, though different timings are acceptable too. Size isn't important—just verify the laptop's supported form factor by opening it.
Sure, just confirm you're purchasing a DDR4 Stick, assuming your laptop is compatible with it. It's better to get the same type installed in your device, though most systems should handle it fine. Search online for M.2 SATA or M.2 PCI-Express options and choose the capacity you prefer.
Additionally, I had an old Pavilion and my project aimed to replace the HDD with a 1TB SSD in its place. I moved the old HDD to an external USB drive. That change really surprised me—it was a huge improvement in speed, making it worthwhile. I also upgraded the RAM later, but that was a long time back. I recall it didn’t work with any standard SD cards since HP had some restrictions; I recommend checking the HP forum for more details.