Upgrading System memory for video performance

[jomisam]

My primary use for this laptop (Rysen 7 with Radeon Graphics) is occasional portable use.

The photo editor (ON1) I would like to use normally recommends a dedicated video card with 8 gig memory.

It was suggested by them that for occasional use, upgrading the system memory might give me acceptable occasional use.

       Therefore, if I were to upgrade the memory from 12 to 24 gig, would that have any noticeable effect on video       

        performance when using a photo editor?     What say you?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If your notebook has 12 GB of memory, then it has an 8 GB memory chip and a 4 GB memory chip installed. 

You can remove the 4 GB memory chip, install a 16 GB memory chip, and have 24 GB of memory.

It may make a very minor difference since some additional shared memory may go to support the graphics.

It depends on how willing you are to take apart the notebook and install a 16 GB memory chip.

One of those would cost in the neighborhood of $35 - $40.

Below is the link to the service manual.

Maintenance and Service Guide HP ENVY x360 15 Convertible PCIMPORTANT! This document is intended for...

[jomisam]

Since the goal would be to support the graphics for the photo editing program, it sounds like it might be helpful to do so. 

An additional question would be how much help?  And depending on much, would it be even more helpful to upgrade to 32 GB rather than 24 GB?  Granted, I don't think it would equal a dedicated video card, but would 24 or 32 memory make this laptop more acceptable for occasional photo editing purposes with a program that is stating that a dedicated video card w/8 GB VRAM is recommended?

As far as the install, I have a employed PC Tech friend that would do it at a favorable cost.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

There's no way that adding system memory will come close to what a more powerful graphics adapter with dedicated graphics memory would provide but it will help a little.

The advantage to maxing out the memory to 2 x 16 GB would be that it will run in the higher performing dual channel mode, instead of the single channel mode it is currently running at with 12 GB or with 24 GB.

In order for the memory to run in dual channel mode, it needs to be installed in matching capacities (2 x 8 GB, 2 x 16 GB).

How much help? 

I'd search and watch some benchmarking videos. 

This one is from a similarly equipped notebook as yours but with only 8 GB of memory running in single channel mode.

Ryzen 7 5700U \ Radeon Graphics \ 25 GAMES TESTED in 06/2022 (8GB single-channel RAM) (youtube.com)