RAM Upgrade

[kecvu]

Hello, so I currently have 2x4GB preinstalled RAM sticks running at 3200MT/s and CL22.

I want to upgrade my RAM and while looking through "compatible" RAM on multiple vendor websites, only CL22 RAM shows up. Is there a reason for that, example the MOBO can't support less latency or are they just matching the latency of the currently preinstalled RAM thinking I would just buy 1 RAM stick instead of a pair to match?

I found a good deal on 2x Kingston Fury Impact KF432S20IB/8 RAM so I just want to check if it would be compatible.

And by the way, when I bought my laptop a long while ago on BestBuy, I *think* it said one of my RAM sticks is soldered to the MOBO, but now everywhere I look on the internet says it's not so I'm confused. Maybe it was a mistake on their part.

Also, just a question I probably know the answer to but am it asking anyways, can I maybe put DDR5 RAM for more speed?

Thank you so much in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Chapter 1 of the service manual indicates that the notebook supports 2 x 8 GB of DDR4-3200 memory.

pdf_5802783_en-US-1.pdf (hp.com)

If you look at chapter 5 of the manual, you will see that both memory chips are under a metal cover and can be removed.

DDR5 memory will not work for 3 reasons:

1.  It runs at a lower voltage than DDR4 memory.

2.  It has a different number of contact pins than DDR4 memory.

3.  The slot in the DDR5 memory board is cut in a different place than it is in a DDR4 memory chip making it impossible to fit in the DDR4 memory slot.

I do not recommend installing memory that has a faster (lower) CL speed than the memory HP installed which is most likely CL22.

If you are not sure, you can run the free utility that I zipped up and attached below and it should tell you all the memory specs of the memory chips HP installed.

Installing faster CL memory may or may not work and no one here would be able to make that determination.

It all depends on if your notebook's BIOS can automatically adjust to the faster timing speeds.

There is no way to make any manual changes to the memory timing or speed in the BIOS.

[kecvu]

When you say: "Installing faster CL memory may or may not work and no one here would be able to make that determination", do you mean the RAM just won't get recognized/work or just the latency timings will default to CL22?

Thank you for your rapid response, you are amazing!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

What I mean is that if the notebook cannot automatically make adjustments for the faster CL speed, the notebook will not boot up.

If you install faster CL memory and the notebook works fine, then everything is OK.

[kecvu]

Wow... and you are telling me I can't check before if it will work or not. That's crazy to me.

Anyways thank you so much!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

That is correct.

If you want to play it safe, install memory with the same CL as the memory HP installed.