RAM Upgrade Compatibility for HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec2004AX

[Piyush_Patel]

Hi,

I have HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - Model: 15-ec2004ax.

I am planning to upgrade the RAM and these are a few options and related questions:

1. Keep the existing 8 GB and add a New 16GB RAM stick. Total=24GB.

    Q. Is it okay to have uneven RAM sizes? Will it not cause overwork on one, or cause the higher one to not work up to said potential?

    Q. I am considering this option as I can in future upgrade to 32GB, but unsure due to the above question

2. Remove the existing 8 GB and add two New 16GB RAM sticks, Total=32GB

    Q. In the manual it says 32 GB is supported. So is it 32GB supported?

   Q. Uneven RAM Sizes i.e. 8GB + 16 GB is feasible = 24GB, depending on my current requirements or it's better to have Equal Ram Sizes of 16GB + 16GB = 32GB for the laptop performance of Rendering and Simulation of 3D CAD.

My PC Usagae is for the 3D CAD Softwares and Product Simulation i.e. SolidWorks, SolidCAM, AutoCAD, NX CAM, etc.

What do you suggest that is better or the Laptop, it's future and my pocket as well.?

[Irfan_06 · Accepted solution]

Hi @ManasBiswal64,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to assist you.

The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec2004AX supports RAM upgrades, and here’s how the two scenarios you’re considering break down:

1. 8GB Existing + New 16GB RAM (Total: 24GB)

Is uneven RAM sizes okay?

• Yes, it's feasible to mix RAM sizes, but it will operate in a flexible dual-channel mode:
  • The first 8GB from both sticks will run in dual-channel mode (faster).
  • The remaining 8GB from the 16GB stick will run in single-channel mode (slower).
• For performance-critical tasks like 3D CAD and simulation, having all the RAM in dual-channel mode is more efficient.

Future upgradability:

• This configuration lets you upgrade to 32GB in the future by replacing the 8GB stick with another 16GB stick.

Drawbacks:

• You might face slightly reduced performance in memory-intensive tasks compared to a matched pair (16GB + 16GB).

2. Remove 8GB, Add Two 16GB RAM Sticks (Total: 32GB)

Is 32GB supported?

• Yes, according to the laptop's specifications, 32GB is the maximum supported RAM.

Performance benefits:

• Using two identical 16GB sticks ensures dual-channel operation across the full 32GB, offering the best performance for rendering, simulations, and multitasking.
• You’ll avoid potential mismatched timing or speed issues that can occur with different-sized RAM sticks.

Cost implications:

• While more expensive upfront, this setup maximizes performance and reduces potential future upgrade costs since you're reaching the laptop's maximum capacity.

Recommendation for 3D CAD Work

Given your use case with software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and SolidCAM, which are memory-intensive, 32GB (16GB + 16GB) is the better option. The dual-channel advantage will provide noticeable benefits in rendering and simulation workloads, as these applications often rely on memory bandwidth and capacity.

• If your budget is constrained, starting with 24GB (8GB + 16GB) is a reasonable compromise, but it may not deliver optimal performance in all scenarios. For best results, ensure the new RAM stick has the same speed and latency (e.g., DDR4 3200MHz) as the existing one.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

 

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a great day ahead!

Irwin6

HP Support