Intel Core i3 3217U @ 1.80GHz /Hewlett-Packard 2186 (U3E1)

[Ckapow]

Hi There,

I'm looking to expand the life of my laptop, i really don't need a new machine but in its old age is getting slower.

I'm already looking to expand the 8GB ram by another 8GB. What are people's experiences with doubling RAM, will this help?

Furthermore, i'm looking at the Corei3 Processor that's in the tech - Is this expandable on this model? 15-N032SA. 

Many thanks in advance.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Processor is soldered to the motherboard and not independently upgradeable. You would have to replace the motherboard and that makes zero financial sense. It will support 16 gigs of RAM by installing a pair of DDR3L-1600 SO-DIMM. For most users the 8 to 16 gig upgrade does very little. If you have not done it already the best and about the only worthwhile upgrade is to replace the mechanical hard drive with a solid state drive. 

Service Manual 

"How to" starts on p. 67. This is not the easiest laptop to work on.

Western Digital WDS500G2B0A WD Blue 3D NAND Internal SSD 2.5 Inch SATA, 500 GB: Amazon.co.uk: Comput...

Post back with any more questions and please accept as solution if this is the info you needed. 

[Ckapow]

Hey there. Thanks for the quick response. 

I feared it’d be a difficult piece of tech to upgrade. 
I think installing an SSD would be dangerous if me and will stick to seeing what a RAM upgrade will do. Failing that, New PC! 

many thanks again,

C

[Huffer]

Memory upgrade is a much harder task. The memory is obsolete so you cannot reuse it. If you do not want to do the SSD I would just get a new one. But good luck whatever you decide to do.