Upgrading Ram. Any limitations for ram? other than processor.

[DCURRIE20]

With the new update to windows 11 this laptop no longer loads the best while on the internet and chrome uses almost all the ram with task manager showing it. even if I was to use other web browsers. 

This is a college laptop that is only used for school work so I wanted to upgrade the ram on this laptop from 4GB the store bought amount to 8GB the max an Intel Pentium Silver N500 Processor allows.

I was wondering if there where any unknown limitation for this product. 

I don't know if the motherboard has limitations for this, even on the HP product page I can not find any info on this.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Here is the Service Manual:

Manual 

Oddly, the Manual lists 8 gb as the max for models with one RAM slot using DDR3, but 4 gb as the max for models such as yours with one memory slot using DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM

You can confirm memory maximum with a command line inquiry as described here:

https://www.technewstoday.com/maximum-ram-capacity/

I also tend to believe that 8 gb will work but the Service Manual creates a significant doubt. 

[DCURRIE20]

first Thank you for your help, but I now have a new question

after doing this I found that the max this laptop motherboard can handle is 16GB with 2 memory devices. if I am reading this right this means I have 2 RAM slots.  so I would max my Processor at 8GB of Ram before the motherboard. I found the max for the processor on the intel website

[DCURRIE20]

I saw in the service manual that the Intel Pentium Silver N5000 is single channel support, I don't know if I should use 1 8GB stick or 2 4Gb sticks. because the processor does not have dual channel support.

[Huffer]

It's single channel because there is only one memory slot. Unless you have misidentified the model of the laptop, when you open it up you will find a single memory slot and also what will look like the tracing of a memory slot but no clips to attach a module. 

The processor could support dual channel memory if the motherboard where it is connected had two memory slots. 

Run the command line inquiry in the article I linked and it will provide a wealth of information about the actual memory options on the computer you have. 

[DCURRIE20]

I have not yet opened this laptop, I guess I should have said that first so it could be that there is a removed memory slot. I did run the command line that was how I got the 16GB with 2 memory slots.  anyway Thanks for Helping it was more difficult than I thought to find some of this info. 

 

[Huffer]

Yes I recall now on these single slot motherboards the Microsoft app shows 2 slots because the motherboard has all the circuitry for a second slot, just no actual way to connect a second module. This at least confirms you can have 8 gigs and 4 is not really the max.