Can I upgrade the RAM in this notebook?

[al92]

Hi All,

I'm looking at buying the HP15-bw089na with the AMD A12 processor, Radeo 350 dedicated graphics card and 8GB RAM. 

As well as general use, I'd potentially be using the laptop for music software and maybe a simulator game (though obviously not at the same time). Should I desire/need, is it possible to upgrade the RAM in this model easily?

Furthermore, I read somehwere that the AMD A12 processor is capable for handling games but is significantly less effective at normal tasks (office, web browsing etc) when compared to an i5. Is this the case?

Thanks very much

[Huffer]

Here is the Service manual:

Manual

This model would fall under Quad Core discrete so has 2 memory slots and can take up to 2 x 8 gig DDR4-2400 modules which will downclock to DDR4-1866 speed. See pages 42-48 for installation procedure. 

We can find online comparisons of the performance of the A12-9720p vs and i5-7200U and the AMD is somewhere between 30 and 80% less powerful on the benchmarks run by this website on the 2 processors. 

https://technical.city/en/cpu/Core-i5-7200U-vs-A12-9720P

AMD noteboooks have an attractive price but I have not owned one in probably 15 years. Intels outperform the AMD processors at every turn. Now, for gaming do not focus on the processor. Common error. An AMD computer can actually game very well if it has a good video card. This model laptop has the Radeon 530 which is a dedicated video card with its own video memory but is a very low-end performer. It would be OK for video rendering, maybe light CAD work or old games, but not so good for current games. Music composition software (e.g audacity) mostly needs memory and processor power not video so the AMD A12 with 8 gigs RAM/Radeon 530 would actually do OK and as you guessed, 16 gigs would be even better. Simulators like filght sim games need video power to run well.

If you want to game on a laptop you are not going to be able to get by with a $600 laptop. You are going to have to spend at least twice that much. Post back with any more questions.