recommendations for RAM upgrade

[dhritishman]

I want to buy 2x8GB RAM. My laptop specifications are:

• Product: HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec0066ax
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3550H with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx
• Motherboard: HP 86D5
• Current RAM: (2x4GB) Hynix SODIMM DDR4 2667MHz

While searching, i found it very confusing as there were many things mentioned that i dont know i.e. single or dual channel, can it support higher frequency, etc. Reading about these topics is not really helping and I couldn't find what is compatible with my laptop.

What are the main points that I should look into, while buying new RAM for my laptop?

What RAM should I buy (any direct recommendation) ?

[banhien · Accepted solution]

@dhritishman 

The specs of your machine is

             https://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c06519427

It has  8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (2 x 4 GB) - 2 slots are occupied - RAM.

1. It run dual (means two) channels now.
2. It supports 2400MHz that why it has Hynix SODIMM DDR4 2667MHz but its specs only says DDR4-2400. You may be able to install higher speed RAM (for example 3200MHz) but it will automatically downgrade to 2400MHz
3. The main point is COMPATIBLE, not all RAM sticks are the same. Normally you can use its manual or use RAM vendors tools to check. I normally use Crucial tool it is very reliable.

                                 https://www.crucial.com/store/crucial-advisor-trust

For your machine, it supports 32GB max. You can use Hynix or Samsung .... or Crucial

         (a) To 16GB:

                    https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/ct2k8g4sfra266/ct18818221                   (will run at 2400MHz)

           or    https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/bl2k8g26c16s4b/ct17771749                 (will run at 2400MHz)

         (b) To 32GB:

                    https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/bl2k16g26c16s4b/ct17771740              (will run at 2400MHz)

Regards.

[dhritishman]

@Banhien 

Thank you. That was an awesome answer and cleared most of my doubts. I have last two doubts.

1. I am interested in the 16GB option. Is there any difference in the two options you showed ?
2.  My current RAM, despite of being 8GB, it shows that only 5.9 GB is usable. What is the cause of this ?