RAM upgrade for Notebook HP 17-ca2521ng - Recommendations?

[Zoot1]

Hi,

I have a HP 17-ca2521ng which came with 8 GB RAM, which is a little low.

Now this HP document

https://support.hp.com/sg-en/document/c06257360

says the 879A motherboard (MSinfo says I have that one):

• Supports up to PC4-19200 (DDR4-2400)
• Supports 2 GB, 4 GB, and 8 GB SODIMMs

Apparently there is one 8GB stick installed, but two slots available. What should I do to upgrade to 16?

- One 16GB stick (although according to the above specs the board can't use 16 GB sticks)?

- Or add a second 8 GB stick, preferably HP original of the same type?

- Two new 8GB sticks, to make sure I get exactly the same type?

- Can I add 16 and keep the old one for a total of 24 GB?

2) I see 2400, 2666 and 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM sticks on offer. Apparently the board can run them at max. 2400 (according to the above specs). Does it make a difference if I get 2666?

3) Are there any BIOS settings I need to change, or should it all work automagically?

4) Would you recommend (or definitely not recommend) any particular brands ?

Thanks for any help!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Run this command and see how much memory your notebook can support...

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 hit enter.

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.

If the report indicates you can run 32 GB of memory, you may want to add a 16 GB chip in the empty memory slot and have 24 GB.

Then if you ever want to max out the memory, you can remove the 8 GB chip and replace it with a second 16 GB memory chip.

I think you will be fine if you add a compatible Crucial memory chip to the existing memory installed.

8 GB:

Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM | CT8G4SFRA266 | Crucial DE

16 GB:

Crucial 16GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM | CT16G4SFRA266 | Crucial DE

The Crucial memory site indicates your notebook can support 2 x 16 GB of memory.

Arbeitsspeicher- & SSD-Upgrades | hp - compaq | hp 17 series | HP 17-ca2521ng | Crucial DE

DDR4-2666 or DDR4-3200 memory will work fine, and it will automatically bridge to 2400 MHz.

You can run the free utility that I zipped up and attached below and it will tell you the manufacturer and speed of the memory HP installed.  It might be 2666 MHz right now, running at 2400 MHz.

[Zoot1]

Hi!

First, thank for the very speedy and helpful answer. I've just installed my new 16GB Crucial module in the 2nd slot. Booting took a long time but I have to admit I rarely power down my laptop and when I do, I don't wait at my desk and watch it boot, so I'm not sure.

Anyway,I just want to be sure that the two modules don't interfere and perhaps run at a slower speed. I wouldn't know what to look for, though, but I've downloaded the handy tool you've linked to, and this is what it says now about my RAM.

Does this look OK?

---------------------------------------------------

[General information]
Total Memory Size: 24 GBytes
Total Memory Size [MB]: 24576
[Current Performance Settings]
Maximum Supported Memory Clock: 1200.0 MHz
Current Memory Clock: 1199.3 MHz
Current Timing (tCAS-tRCD-tRP-tRAS): 18-18-18-39
Memory Channels Supported: 2
Memory Channels Active: 2
Command Rate: 1T
Read to Read Delay (tRDRD_SC) Same Chipselect: 1T
Read to Read Delay (tRDRD_SG/TrdrdScL) Same Bank Group: 3T
Read to Read Delay (tRDRD_SD) Same DIMM: 3T
Read to Read Delay (tRDRD_DD) Different DIMM: 3T
Write to Write Delay (tWRWR_SC) Same Chipselect: 1T
Write to Write Delay (tWRWR_SG/TwrwrScL) Same Bank Group: 3T
Write to Write Delay (tWRWR_SD) Same DIMM: 5T
Write to Write Delay (tWRWR_DD) Different DIMM: 5T
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): 11T
Read to Precharge Delay (tRTP): 9T
Write to Precharge Delay (tWTP): 29T
Write Recovery Time (tWR): 18T
Row Cycle Time (tRC): 57T
Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC): 421T
Four Activate Window (tFAW): 26T

Row: 0 [P0 CHANNEL A/Bottom - Slot 1 (left)] - 16 GB PC4-21300 DDR4 SDRAM Crucial Technology CT16G4SFRA266.M8FB

[General Module Information]
Module Number: 0
Module Size: 16 GBytes
Memory Type: DDR4 SDRAM
Module Type: SO-DIMM
Memory Speed: 1333.3 MHz (DDR4-2666 / PC4-21300)
Module Manufacturer: Crucial Technology
Module Part Number: CT16G4SFRA266.M8FB
Module Revision: 0.0
Module Serial Number: 2323993830 (E654858A)
Module Manufacturing Date: Year: 2022, Week: 9
Module Manufacturing Location: 0
SDRAM Manufacturer: Micron
DRAM Steppping: 0.0
Error Check/Correction: None
[Module Characteristics]
Row Address Bits: 17
Column Address Bits: 10
Module Density: 16384 Mb
Number Of Ranks: 1
Number Of Bank Groups: 4
Device Width: 8 bits
Bus Width: 64 bits
Die Count: 1
Module Nominal Voltage (VDD): 1.2 V
Minimum SDRAM Cycle Time (tCKAVGmin): 0.75000 ns (1333 MHz)
Maximum SDRAM Cycle Time (tCKAVGmax): 1.60000 ns
CAS# Latencies Supported: 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Minimum CAS# Latency Time (tAAmin): 14.250 ns
Minimum RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCDmin): 14.250 ns
Minimum Row Precharge Time (tRPmin): 14.250 ns
Minimum Active to Precharge Time (tRASmin): 32.000 ns
Supported Module Timing at 1333.3 MHz: 19-19-19-43
Supported Module Timing at 1200.0 MHz: 18-18-18-39
Supported Module Timing at 1066.7 MHz: 16-16-16-35
Supported Module Timing at 933.3 MHz: 14-14-14-30
Supported Module Timing at 800.0 MHz: 12-12-12-26
Supported Module Timing at 666.7 MHz: 10-10-10-22
Minimum Active to Active/Refresh Time (tRCmin): 46.250 ns
Minimum Refresh Recovery Time Delay (tRFC1min): 350.000 ns
Minimum Refresh Recovery Time Delay (tRFC2min): 260.000 ns
Minimum Refresh Recovery Time Delay (tRFC4min): 160.000 ns
Minimum Four Activate Window Delay Time (tFAWmin): 21.000 ns
Minimum Active to Active Delay Time - Different Bank Group (tRRD_Smin): 3.000 ns
Minimum Active to Active Delay Time - Same Bank Group (tRRD_Lmin): 4.900 ns
Minimum CAS to CAS Delay Time - Same Bank Group (tCCD_Lmin): 5.000 ns
[Features]
Module Temperature Sensor (TSOD): Not Supported
Module Nominal Height: 29 - 30 mm
Module Maximum Thickness (Front): 1 - 2 mm
Module Maximum Thickness (Back): 1 - 2 mm
Address Mapping from Edge Connector to DRAM: Standard

Row: 1 [P0 CHANNEL B/Bottom - Slot 2 (right)] - 8 GB PC4-25600 DDR4 SDRAM Micron 4ATF1G64HZ-3G2E2

[General Module Information]
Module Number: 1
Module Size: 8 GBytes
Memory Type: DDR4 SDRAM
Module Type: SO-DIMM
Memory Speed: 1600.0 MHz (DDR4-3200 / PC4-25600)
Module Manufacturer: Micron
Module Part Number: 4ATF1G64HZ-3G2E2
Module Revision: 3.2
Module Serial Number: 202370861 (2DEF0F0C)
Module Manufacturing Date: Year: 2021, Week: 13
Module Manufacturing Location: 15
SDRAM Manufacturer: Micron
DRAM Steppping: 4.5
Error Check/Correction: None
[Module Characteristics]
Row Address Bits: 17
Column Address Bits: 10
Module Density: 16384 Mb
Number Of Ranks: 1
Number Of Bank Groups: 2
Device Width: 16 bits
Bus Width: 64 bits
Die Count: 1
Module Nominal Voltage (VDD): 1.2 V
Minimum SDRAM Cycle Time (tCKAVGmin): 0.62500 ns (1600 MHz)
Maximum SDRAM Cycle Time (tCKAVGmax): 1.60000 ns
CAS# Latencies Supported: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28
Minimum CAS# Latency Time (tAAmin): 13.750 ns
Minimum RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCDmin): 13.750 ns
Minimum Row Precharge Time (tRPmin): 13.750 ns
Minimum Active to Precharge Time (tRASmin): 32.000 ns
Supported Module Timing at 1600.0 MHz: 22-22-22-52
Supported Module Timing at 1466.7 MHz: 21-21-21-47
Supported Module Timing at 1333.3 MHz: 19-19-19-43
Supported Module Timing at 1200.0 MHz: 17-17-17-39
Supported Module Timing at 1066.7 MHz: 15-15-15-35
Supported Module Timing at 933.3 MHz: 13-13-13-30
Supported Module Timing at 800.0 MHz: 11-11-11-26
Supported Module Timing at 666.7 MHz: 10-10-10-22
Minimum Active to Active/Refresh Time (tRCmin): 45.750 ns
Minimum Refresh Recovery Time Delay (tRFC1min): 350.000 ns
Minimum Refresh Recovery Time Delay (tRFC2min): 260.000 ns
Minimum Refresh Recovery Time Delay (tRFC4min): 160.000 ns
Minimum Four Activate Window Delay Time (tFAWmin): 30.000 ns
Minimum Active to Active Delay Time - Different Bank Group (tRRD_Smin): 5.300 ns
Minimum Active to Active Delay Time - Same Bank Group (tRRD_Lmin): 6.400 ns
Minimum CAS to CAS Delay Time - Same Bank Group (tCCD_Lmin): 5.000 ns
[Features]
Module Temperature Sensor (TSOD): Not Supported
Module Nominal Height: 29 - 30 mm
Module Maximum Thickness (Front): 1 - 2 mm
Module Maximum Thickness (Back): <= 1 mm
Address Mapping from Edge Connector to DRAM: Standard

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Looking at the report you posted the memory is running as it should, at 1199.3 (1,200) MHz.

You multiply the 1,200 x 2 to arrive at the 2,400 MHz figure, but that only counts if you have two matching capacity memory chips in both slots.

As I had replied the other day, your notebook's processor can only run the memory at a max speed of 2,400 MHz.

The cause of the slow boot time is probably the 5,400 mechanical hard drive.

If you replaced that drive with a 2.5 In solid state drive, the boot up time and overall performance would be greatly improved.

HP only has the service manual for the older 17-ca1xxx model series, but according to chapter 1 of the manual, your notebook has a M.2 slot that supports both SATA and NVMe SSD's.

Maintenance and Service Guide HP 17 Laptop PC

A M.2 NVMe SSD would be around 3 - 5 times faster than a SATA SSD, so you have that option as well.

I just don't know for sure if the notebooks with the Athlon processors support NVMe SSD's or just those with the Ryzen processors.

[Zoot1]

Thanks! That'll be a problem for another day.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime. 

Glad to have been of assistance.