HP Pavilion 1120-8 (2011): Is the 8GB of RAM expandable? Would another 8GB improve my video editing?

[Catperson9]

This 5-year-old desktop is doing a terrible job with video editing programs. They all crash frequently, with "low memory" messages. I have 8GB of RAM, but only 3.42 GB are useable. Rather than buy a new computer, I'd like to know if this model is expandable to 16GB of RAM (or more), and whether taking it into a shop for the upgrade would improve the video editing performance. Also, would it help to upgrade the graphics card from an NVIDIA GeForce 530 to something like a 750M? Thanks.

[wb2001 · Accepted solution]

@Catperson9,

Do you actually own an HPE h8-1120, as shown here.  ????

That model shipped with WIN 7 64 bit.  But you stated WIn 10 32bit. That is the first problem.

A 32bit OS will have a limit of 4GB installed, and the usual 3.42 (+/-) useable RAM.

If it had been 64 bit, which it is not, it would have only allowed 8 GB total.  (4GB per slot).

Now I am wondering how you got into this situation, the 32bit OS ???

BTW, the CPU processor is a lowly I-2600 chip.  That is the second problem.

As far as graphic cards, your system is Legacy.  The GTX 660  is legacy, but it requires should be run with a 600W PSU.  The 750M is a laptop chip.  Don't know where your getting your insights, but at least your asking before the $$$ get spent.

[Catperson9]

Thanks so much for the reply, quite helpful, some answers, good questions. Yes, I do own an HP 8-1120. It did ship with Windows 7, though if that was 64- bit, I did not remember that. I switched the OS to Windows 10 at Microsoft's frequent urging, and just yesterday learned that by default a 32-bit version of Windows 10 was installed. Because only 3.42 GB of the installed 8 GB RAM is useable, this probably is causing my video editing problems with low memory. Because my processor is x64, I can upgrade to 64-bit Windows 10, and I plan to do that today -- after warily backing up my files, a fraught process that ended in many losses when I switched from Windows 7 to Windows 10 32-bit. I've also ordered 8 GB more memory -- this model can handle up to 16 GB RAM installed -- and will install it, though some of that will be wasted. If I end up with 8 GB of useable RAM, that ought to be enough to help enormously with video editing. As for the "lowly" 2600 processor, I am stuck with it, and I'm not going to bother to change the graphics card, either. In the end, I may end up buying a new computer, but that's what I'm trying to avoid. Again, thanks for your help.

[wb2001]

@Catperson9,

Thank you for your excellent follow-up, and of course, the KUDO and Solution points.  I was pleased to assist you.