RAM upgrade HP Pavillion Notebook - Product number: 4WD03PA#ACJ

[nPaliwal]

Product: HP Pavilion Notebook - Product Number: 4WD03PA#ACJ

Hi!
I'm looking for a Ram upgrade on my laptop and I would like to replace the current 8GB of RAM with a total of 16GB or 32 GB one but I really don't know which one to get and how to mount it. Especially if something changes by inserting only one 16gb stack or two 8gb stack. Or in one slot I keep 8 GB and insert 16 GB into another. Which brand and model of rRam should be used. Over all not affecting the performance of laptop in negative way.

The HP Support Assitant software shows this in Device Specifications: 8GB Samsung 2400MHz  

Here's my PC info:
HP Pavilion Notebook - Product Number: 4WD03PA#ACJ 

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H CPU @ 2.20GHz, 2208 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)

Installed Ram: 8.00 GB (7.81 GB usable)

Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050

Thanks all!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Your notebook can only support up to 2 x 16 GB of memory.

You cannot install a single 32 GB memory chip in a memory slot.

You want to use DDR4-2666 CL19 memory in your notebook, or DDR4-3200 CL22 memory, which will run at 2666 Mhz.

I recommend either of these memory chips:

Amazon.in: Buy Crucial Basics 16GB DDR4 1.2v 2666Mhz CL19 SODIMM RAM Memory Module for Laptops and N...

Amazon.in: Buy Crucial RAM 16GB DDR4 3200 MHz CL22 Laptop Memory CT16G4SFRA32A Online at Low Prices ...

Below is the link to the service manual, where you can find the memory removal and replacement procedure:

Maintenance and Service Guide HP Pavilion Notebook PC

I'm curious as to why HP installed a DDR4-2400 MHz memory chip when the Intel i7-8750H can run the memory at 2666 MHz?

Intel Core i78750H Processor 9M Cache up to 4.10 GHz Product Specifications

[nPaliwal]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for replying, it was helpful but I have gone through the Service Guide that you provided in your reply and I found this text as shown in below snip:

It says:

•  Customer non accessible/non upgradable
• DDR4-2666 bridge to DDR4-2400
• Supports Upto 8GB max system memory

What does that mean?

Also, is Crucial RAM brand suggested by HP? Or should I go with Samsung RAM?

Thanks all!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The 'Customer non accessible/non upgradable' statement means that HP wants any work done inside the notebook to be performed by an authorized service center.

The 8 GB max memory is totally incorrect.

Chapter 5 has the memory removal and replacement procedure.

I recommend Crucial memory because it is almost always compatible.

You asked what brand and model memory you should get, and I provided the only answer I feel comfortable with providing.

If you want to do something different, make sure whatever memory you buy is CL19 for DDR4-2666 or CL22 for DDR4-3200.

As for confirming that 32 GB (2 x 16) GB of memory will work in your notebook, you can run this command:

1. In the search box, search for cmd and click Run as administrator.

This will open the command prompt.

2. Once command prompt is opened, type wmic memphysical get maxcapacityEx and press the enter key.

There, it will show the maximum RAM capacity your PC's motherboard can support.

The capacity is shown as Kilobytes, so you have to convert it to Gigabytes by dividing the number provided in the report by 1,048,576.

[nPaliwal]

Thanks a lot Paul, 

your answers are easy to understand. 

Can I upgrade SSD too?

Thanks & Regards?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The parts list for your notebook indicates that it came with a 128 GB SATA M.2 SSD.

You can either install a larger capacity M.2 SATA SSD, or upgrade to the faster M.2 NVMe SSD type.

This discussion shows that it is possible.

Solved: Is NVMe supported on the HP Pavilion 15-bc439ur 2018 laptop ... - HP Support Community - 887...

The M.2 slot is PCIe Gen 3.0.

A Gen 4.0 SSD will also work but it will not run at its maximum advertised read/write speeds from a Gen 3.0 slot.

[nPaliwal]

I will do further research on this.

You made my life easy.

Thanks & Regards. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

For a NVMe SSD, I recommend the Samsung 980 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD and my second choice would be the Crucial P3 NVMe SSD.

[nPaliwal]

Hi Paul,

Under the 'Memory" section on page 4 of the service book for the HP Pavilion series says this:
"DDR4-2666 bridge to DDR4-2400"

Don't you think that a 2666MHz RAM stick will be downclocked to 2400MHz? And a 2400MHz stick will run natively at 2400MHz, which will be faster than a 2666MHz stick, because the 'downclocking' is an extra process overhead on the system that will take a toll on the speed?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Here's the thing...

The Intel specs on the processor indicate it runs the memory at 2666 MHz.

Intel Core i78750H Processor 9M Cache up to 4.10 GHz Product Specifications

Either HP has locked the motherboard to the slower DDR4-2400 memory speed or the information in the manual is incorrect for the processor your notebook comes with.

So, I can't answer your question.

If you want to spend way more for a DDR4-2400 MHz memory chip, that is up to you.

As I posted earlier, I have recommended memory for your PC, and I am not going to recommend anything different.

The performance decrease for the millisecond bridge to from 3200 or 2666 MHz to 2400 MHz would be unnoticeable.