Not Clear Whether a RAM and M.2 Upgrade is Possible

[ManthosD]

Hello everyone. I am interested in upgrading the RAM and the M.2 Drive in my HP Envy x360 15m-ee0xxx (15m-ee0013dx written on the back panel), but I have gotten mixed results on my research - both online and from the greek HP office.

On some websites that offer (like Crucial's, or Memory Man) on my particular model, it says that the maximum available RAM is 64gb (2x32).

When I contacted the HP Tech Support here in Greece, it says that my RAM is non-upgradable, as well as the M.2 drive. He also had a hard time figuring it out himself.

On a forum post here (posted on 11/15/2020 by Sayedo0z and solved by The_Fossete, having the same question on the same model  the suggested RAM was 16gb (2x8). There was also a PDF guide attached (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06618426), but on page 9 it reads, on the Memory category: ''Support for DDR4-3200 1.2 v, nonupgradeable, onboard system memory in 16 GB and
8 GB configurations''

Could someone help me clarify this? Here is my product number, in case it helps:  9HZ86UA#ABA

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

My understanding is chapter 1 of the service manual is wrong, and chapter 5 is correct...the memory is removable.

See this discussion regarding a very similar model with pictures...

HP ENVY x360 15-ee0003ca 2-in-1 Laptop RAM upgrade options - Page 2 - HP Support Community - 7771874

[ManthosD]

Thank you @Paul_Tikkanen. I am glad someone had a similar issue and it eventually worked out. It's true that the manual is misleading. I will probably wait for a few days to see if someone else replies, open up my own laptop (to also get used to the procedure), and then buy the RAM. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-P1tCI0abE&t=50s)

The guy on the following video has the same model as me, and mods it the way I want to mod it (1tb of M.2, 32gigs of RAM). As you said in the other thread, I am very, very impressed with this laptop, and bought it specifically for it's upgradability - I do music production, plenty of RAM is, if not a necessity, a great asset on a system, esp. a laptop. 

For some reason, on your posts I couldn't see the screenshots of the HWiNFO you did. Do these show the info you mentioned? If yes, what exactly are they? (so I can look for them myself in the future if needed)

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I don't keep my pictures on the forum once the topic has been discussed.

What the screenshot showed was absolutely no description of the memory...brand, etc.

You can run the free utility on your notebook and then also run it on a different PC you have that you know has removable memory and you will see what I was referring to.

Based on the HW Info report, I would have bet my bottom dollar that the memory was part of the motherboard, and I would have lost.

[ManthosD]

Ok, I get you. I ran it, and it detects the modules. I also ran CPU-Z, but it doesn't show them. So, unless you have replied and pointed me in the other thread, I would have also betted that it isn't upgradable - though on sites like Crucial, Memoryman etc it appears as though it is. 

I'll probably do it anyway, and post the results here. Hopefully HP notices it, and fixes some manuals - it's a shame. 

Thanks again

!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

I guess you may as well go for 2 x 16 GB of memory since you have to replace both 4 GB chips.

2 x 32 GB is overkill.

Mine came with 2 x 8 GB of memory and it runs fine as is, so I doubt I will upgrade the memory to 32 GB.

[ManthosD]

Yes yes, I will go for 2x16gb. Although in writing music for soundtracks, it's not uncommon to see 64gigs of RAM, or even 128 - we load lots of gigs of sampled audio on RAM for quick streaming, But in my case, 64 is too much, both for my needs and my wallet. 

[ManthosD · Accepted solution]

Here's is an update of the issue, when I contacted the HP Support here in Greece again, based on what a new support employee told me.

1) On the fact the service guide states the memory is onboard, and on pg.30 it says how to remove it:  The laptop is not meant to be opened by the end user (like some that have a RAM back door). The manual states it is onboard, to prevent users from meddling with it, and possibly breaking the guarantee (dumb, I know, they could have made a note instead of using a false term). But the RAM is not onboard, in the sense it is soldered, and the RAM is upgradable - it's simply not that easy to access, and the procedure of doing so could possibly damage the laptop if done by someone who is not proficient and knowledgeable.

2) On the ram maximum upgrade: HP will advise the use of the modules they suggest, which is in 8gb and 16gb configurations. The employee told me that it is possible to go up (like the Crucial site states, 64gb), but it is not guaranteed that it will work, and it is not advised by HP (which is understandable). That's why users have been able to do it, regardless of that the maintenance guide states.

3) On upgrading parts while not breaching the guarantee: It is possible to upgrade the components without any risk of breaching the guarantee, either by doing it yourself by sendind it to an authorized hp service center. BUT, the guarantee will not cover any damage done by the end user if he/she attempts to open the computer and does something wrong. Also, as the employee told me... if your laptop needs to be serviced, and whilst they open it up they see that someone who wasn't authorized has opened it before, they will cancel the guarantee - regardless of whether the problem was caused by something connected to the laptop being opened before or not. So, it is adviced to let an authorized hp center to do it, if the guarantee is still active. 

So, if anyone happens to stumble across this thread... this is what I came across so far. I haven't decided whether I will upgrade myself or not yet, but a) I hope the info above help someone who needs clarification, and b) I will keep this thread updated in case something else changes. This maschine is a little beast - shame you have to jump through such hoops simply to make it an even wilder beast.