confusion over max RAM/memory supported by DDR3L dual channel

[Vixen1920]

Hi all. I've done a ton of research and initially believed the max RAM my laptop could support was 8GB and that it was a single port. I also was under the impression that DDR3 is always single port and that dual ports are DDR4. I don't know where I got that info because now I see my the user guide says:

2 SODIMM slots DDR3L-1600
Support for DDR3L-1600
Support for dual channel
Supports up to 16384-MB maximum on-board system memory 

Regardless, I recently upgraded the original 4GB memory to 8GB, and once I (finally) reached the memory slot(s), I noticed something that looked like a 2nd empty one right by it. My memory slot was white and said "1.5V DDR3 REV" on the left and "foxconn" on the right. The black slot I left empty said "4.0S" on the left and "LTK" on the right.

Do I actually have dual ports? If I wanted to add another 8GB, would I actually need to get *two* new DDR4L 8G modules, since I bought a DDR3L? Can anyone tell me what my max supported RAM is? ANY ANSWERS WOULD BE *SO* APPRECIATED.

[iomare]

Hi,

Max RAM for your notebook is 16GB of DDR3L 1600MHz RAM (2x8GB)

You can only use DDR3L, not DDR4 (it will not fit and will not be compatible. You can use in dual channel mode (even DDR2 can work in dual channel mode).

For dual channel you should install RAM with the same specification, so another stick of 8GB of the same RAM in the other slot.

You could have also left the old 4GB module in the slot and added the 8GB stick for a total of 12GB.

On page 38 of service manual, you can see the steps to add RAM

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04825536

An upgrade which would give even a more noticeable performance boost than the RAM would be to replace the HDD with a 2,5" SSD

Hope it helps,

David

Please click on thumbs up for thanks

Please click on accept as solution if answered your question

[Vixen1920]

Hi David. Thanks sooo much for the info the 16gb max.  I did make sure the new 8 gb RAM was also 1600 mhz like my old 4 gb RAM, but for some reason my computer is not functioning in dual channel mode now that I've added the old 4 gb into that 2nd slot (which I did just now after reading your response) . I tried googling "enabling dual channel mode windows 10" and cannot find anything there or in the bios settings (although I'm no pro). Is dual channel not activating because I need two matching 8 GBs? Perhaps more importantly, is it bad that I have the extra/mix-matched RAM in there if it is not even being used? Maybe I should remove it, or just buy a new 8 GB, but then it'd really suck if I couldn't get dual channel mode to work (LOL)!

& I did do the SSD install too! 😄 I did the Samsung 860 EVO 500 GB. Man, was that a project for me, but it is AMAZING!!! Best. choice. ever. 

Let me know if any ideas on the RAM issue. Thanks 🙂 -Alisha

[iomare · Accepted solution]

You're welcome Alisha,

Yes, adding an SSD sure changes the performance of the PC. Once you get used to it, it is difficult to go back to PC without SSD.

you are correct, the RAM needs to be the same size and kind to run in dual channel mode. So you would need another 8GB stick of the same RAM to run in dual channel mode.

So, at the moment you have 12GB in single channel mode. It is no problem to add the other 4GB stick, it will just be extra RAM.

Dual-channel will not actually give you double the speed and you might not really notice in everyday use. I was just reading this to take a look at some benchmarks:

https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1349-ram-how-dual-channel-works-vs-single-channel/Page-3

Hope it helps,

David

[Vixen1920]

Oh, okay. Thanks so much, again. That's good to know. I won't waste my money/time then 🙂

[iomare]

You're welcome.

Let me know if you need any further help.

All the best,

David