HP Envy 16-0047TX Ram Upgrade

[Chris_Donaghy]

Hello HP Community.

I had a read through some other posts RE: RAM Upgrades but I didn't see anything specifically relating to incompatibility issues. 

Before thinking about upgrading my Laptop (which is only around 2 years old), I decided to upgrade the RAM in my HP Envy from 2 x 8GB to 2 x 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 as I use a lot of resource heavy programs such as Navisworks (no gaming) and also upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 11 Home at the same time. I ended up having a major issue where the computer would randomly freeze requiring a hard reboot to get going again. This was often after the cooling fans went into afterburner mode, so I was thinking heat related but the machine did not feel hot. This was completely random and could happen within while awaiting login, 30 seconds after logging in or 4 hours of using the PC.

I spent hours looking at what I was doing when the freezing occurred, and everything was pointing to a software issue (Windows, Edge, Outlook, OneDrive, Acrobat, PowerPoint, Graphics / Network Drivers). Other threads I had read on support groups indicated that there were more people having 'similar' issues and all of the answers pointed the finger at the Windows 11 24H2 update.

So, I wiped all of my partitions and completed the cleanest install of Windows 11 possible and updated all of my drivers and software manually to the latest version available. The problem still existed. I had no other option but to revert back to the original HP RAM (2 x 8GB DDR5) and lo-and-behold, from the time I turned it back on, no freezing whatsoever and the computer is running better than new (even the fan noise seems to be heavily reduced / less frequent 😁). 

My questions to the community are:

1) Has anyone successfully upgraded a HP Envy 16-h0047TX from the original 2 x 8GB of Genuine RAM to any amount of non-genuine RAM?

2) If so, how much can this model accept (user manual says 32GB, other sources say 64GB)

3) What brand is compatible with the HP Envy 16-h0047TX as it appears that Corsair is not....

My Specifications are:

HP Envy 16-h0047TX

12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H, 2.30 GHz, 14 Cores, 20 Threads

16GB (2 x 8GB) 4800 MT/s DDR5 RAM

Intel Arc A370M Graphics, 4GB VRAM, Discrete

Intel Iris Xe Graphics 128MB VRAM, 8GB Shared, Integrated, 1400 MHz

Also, just in case I am a complete numpty and have purchased obviously incompatible RAM, below photos of the original and purchased memory modules. Does any of the info on the labels indicate they are incompatible? 

If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated as I would still like to upgrade the RAM if possible. 

Cheers, Chris. 

[TzortzisG]

Hello Chris_Donaghy.

HP laptops can be somewhat picky when it comes to the RAM modules they use. With DDR3 and DDR4 this used to be a big deal (and still is when somebody wants to upgrade their old system), but DDR5 modules seem to offer a wider range of compatibility. Why did the RAM modules you installed have issues with your Envy 16? I'm not sure exactly. The Corsair 2x16GB kit you used (cmsx32gx5m2a4800c40) seems to have the correct timings and the appropriate chip organization to that the original lower capacity factory-fitted Hynix 2x8GB modules (HMCG66MEBSA092N BA) have. The Corsair memory should have worked. However, Vengeance RAM modules are mostly aimed at power users with Gaming systems. If you take a look at the specs link I provided above, this kit is meant for systems like Alienware, Asus ROG, MSI, etc, etc. HP laptops should not be fitted with this kind of memory, because they often have issues with it.

Both the manual, and the datasheet for your product series confirm that 16GB modules can be used and actually were installed on some of these systems. If we visit the HP PartSurfer page for one of these laptops, we can download an image of the original 16GB module used:

This is the Micron MTC8C1084S1SC48BA1 BC RAM module, in case you want to find the exact same one (on Amazon and such). You don't have to though. According to Intel's spec sheet for your 12700H CPU, it can support up to 64GB of DDR5 at 4800 speed. Kingston has 16GB modules that are guaranteed to be compatible with your system, while Crucial on its page for your system offers both 16GB and 32GB RAM with assured compatibility. The Kingston KCP (branded RAM) modules have never ever (ever ever) let me down, and Crucial's DDR5 product line can also be trusted,

One last thing. Although Intel claims that these Alder Lake CPUs have been tested with up to 64GBs of DDR5, many users of HP laptops with these processors have tried to install more RAM....and they have succeeded! In fact, HP did sell some systems like these where the SMBIOS data (wmic command) showed capacities higher than 64GB could be supported. Some review sites and companies that sell RAM have also noticed this "discrepancy" and mention 96GB as the maximum supported RAM for these systems. For example, Laptopmedia reviewed the Envy 16-h0000 in 2022 and the specs mention: "RAM up to 96GB". The Munich-based CompuRAM, manufacturer and seller of memory modules also mentions that 2x48GB kits are fully supported by this series. Although I couldn't find an instance of your Envy upgraded with 96GBs of DDR5, there are many other HP models with these CPUs sold with this configuration. For example here is an Omen 16-K0008Nt with the exact same CPU that Intel claims has a 64GB limit, sold with 2x48GB DDR5. Of course, trying to upgrade systems with totally unsupported configurations like these is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Take care!