Wifi and memory upgrades

[Jim_in_Waterloo]

Salvaged a couple of things from a dead Lenovo Laptop and am wondering if they would improve this HP laptop.

Wifi card available Intel 3165NGW. This would be an upgrade as it has bluetooth.....if the laptop has a bluetooth antenna.

Does this laptop have only one memory slot? Comes with 4GB and I now have an additional 4GB module.

Thanks in advance.

[Huffer]

Here is the Service Manual:

Manual 

It says there are two memory slots but I am a bit skeptical for your model with the low-end AMD E2 processor. If there are 2 slots it needs DDR3L-1600 SO-DIMM which runs at 1333 mhz because of motherboard limitations. Max is an 8 gb module in each slot-whether 1 or 2 slots. As for the wireless it uses the M.2 form factor cards, but there is only a single antenna so upgrade opportunities are very limited. 

Post back with any more questions. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @Jim_in_Waterloo 

The parts list for your notebook indicates that it comes with a Realtek RTL8188EE-VJ 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi adapter.

HP PartSurfer

There is one model dual band AC wifi adapter that works with a single antenna wire, and that is this one...

Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported) HP part # L17365-005.

You can find this model on eBay, or Ali Express,

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=L17365-005&_sacat=0&_sop=15

The card will have the same 72 MBPS throughput as the original wifi card on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band, it will have a max throughput of 433 MBPS when you have an AC router with an excellent wifi signal strength.

[Jim_in_Waterloo]

Thank you for the quick reply. I too am skeptical so I was hoping to be sure before I open it up. On page 4 of the manual it has this chart:

Doesn't this indicate the Intel AC-3165 would work with dual antennas? Not certain that means there are 2 antennas there, but does suggest it.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Your notebook will only have one antenna with the Realtek card.

If you attach the single antenna to the 3165's Main antenna terminal, the wifi will work, but not the Bluetooth.

The second antenna is used for the Bluetooth reception, as well as wifi antenna diversity.

[Jim_in_Waterloo]

Thanks. I am probably not ambitious enough to add a second antenna.

Do you know whether my laptop has a second memory slot. The manual seems to indicate it does (but it also seems to indicate that the Intel AC-3165 would work so maybe I am reading it wrong).

Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The notebook covers a range of models in the series.

Some come with different processors, graphics, and wifi cards.

According to the table in chapter 1 of the manual, it indicates that the notebooks with the E2 processors have two memory slots, but it appears that the processor your notebook has will run the 1600 MHz memory at 1333 MHz, since it only has the onboard AMD R2 graphics.

The Crucial memory report for your notebook also indicates that it has two memory slots.

Memory RAM & SSD Upgrades | hp - compaq | hp 15 series | HP 15-ba008ca | Crucial.com

[Jim_in_Waterloo]

Thanks again.

These are the specs for the spare memory module I have which look like the match up with the specs on the Crucial page!

Might need to pop open the laptop and see if it works. Any cautions?

Manufacturer Part # M471B5173EB0-YKO(Samsung)

Memory Type SODIMM

Capacity 4GB

Data Transfer Rate 1600Mhz

Pins 204 Pin

Bus Type PC-12800

Error Correction Non-ECC

Cycle Time 1.25ns

Cas CL11

Memory Clock 200Mhz

Rank Rank 1

Voltage 1.35

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The spare 4 GB chip you have seems to indicate that it would work just fine.

If not, you can use either of these Crucial part numbers based on how much memory you plan on installing.

4 GB:

Crucial 4GB DDR3L-1600 SODIMM | CT51264BF160B | Crucial.com

8 GB:

Crucial 8GB DDR3L-1600 SODIMM | CT102464BF160B | Crucial.com

[Jim_in_Waterloo · Accepted solution]

So I used Task Manager, Performance tab, which indicated a second memory slot. So I popped it open and YAHOO there is a second memory slot in this machine.

And the first slot is filled with EXACTLY THE SAME RAM MODULE that I have. Awesome.

Sadly no second antenna wire hanging around so I'll stick with the existing wifi card.

Thanks again