HP DV7t-3100 CTO CPU upgrade question

[Estam]

I am upgrading my HP Pavilion dv7t-3100 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC (product VG420AV) with the maximum 8GB of RAM but the CPU is only an Intel i3 M330 @ 2.13 Ghz, and have installed Windows 10 20H2 and is very slow. I purchased 2x 4gig ram from crucial and wondering if I have done the right thing. Before I break the seal on the ram packaging thought I would ask this question. Will 8 gig with a slow cpu make much difference, would I notice any increase in speed.  Or would I be further ahead to also buy a faster CPU? I'm not a gamer and only use the computer for simple business use but Win 10 has definitely done a number on it's speed. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If the Crucial memory you bought is DDR3L-1600, it won't work.

Notebooks with the Intel 1st gen core processors are very hard to find the right memory for.

You can read this discussion regarding the headaches encountered...

Solved: Memory upgrade 6550b - HP Support Community - 5340551

8 GB of memory should make a decent improvement if you only have 2 GB or 4 GB of memory currently installed.

This is the memory that should work in your PC...

G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8G...

I believe that the best processor that you can install in your PC would be the Intel Core i5-580M processor.

Your notebook's motherboard only supports the dual core processor series.

[itsmyname]

@Estam -- have installed Windows 10 20H2 and is very slow.

Open the Windows "Task Manager", and switch to its "Performance" tab.

Is the CPU always running at 100%

Is more than 60% of the RAM being used?

Is the disk-drive quite "active"?

One of these components could be the "bottle-neck" hurting your computer's performance.

If less than 40% of the RAM is being used, buying more RAM is a waste of your money.

[Estam]

Thanks Paul,

The memory that I bought was this:

https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr3/ct51264bf160b

I was thinking of sending it back so I haven't removed it from it's packing yet.

Would this be the correct for this laptop?

[Estam]

OK, looks like I purchased the incorrect ram

I will go with the g-skill.

Also the i5, found one on eBay, would this work?

https://www.ebay.com/p/109622843

Many thanks...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, even though the Crucial memory indicates it is compatible it is highly unlikely it will work.

Usually, one 4 GB chip will work, but when you add the second chip it won't work right if at all.

Go with the G.Skill memory because that is what has worked for everyone that I have recommended it to.

Yes, that i5-580M processor should work fine.

[Estam]

Thanks Paul, Weirdly enough I followed a link and got to Crucial Web Site and ordered this set of ram's. Checking it out, they were not even the correct voltage. The one's I ordered from Crucial are 1.35v and I needed 1.5v. Thanks for your G-Skill suggestion. Google "HP DV7-3100 CTO"  and the second link is Crucial pointing to the incorrect ram's

 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

[Estam]

Hi Paul, Installed 8 gb ram and have only 2.99 gb usable. Checking around seems I have to upgrade to 64 bit, does this model have this ability or are there other options?

Thanks...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Yes, you have to install a 64-bit operating system for more than 4 GB of memory to be seen and used by Windows.

You have to clean install a 64-bit operating system from a 32 bit one.

That means you have to back up any files you need to save onto a portable hard drive and reinstall any programs and drivers that are needed.

Since you are running Windows 10, you would use another PC running W7 64 bit or newer and the media creation tool to create 64-bit installation media.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Since your notebook did not come with W10 from HP, when you boot from the installation media you will be asked to select the version of W10 you want to install.  Select the applicable version (Home or Pro).

Then you will be asked to enter a product key.  Select the 'I don't have a product key' option.