Can ProBook 4530s hold more than 8GB RAM?

[Auburna]

Hi all,

I'm a total rookie when it comes to upgrades, so please bear with me 🙂

I have a 4530s and I use it for design. My work became very demanding software-wise and the 8GB of RAM are no longer sufficient. I adore this machine though, and don't want to replace it with a new one yet. Can I add more ram? Or can I make any other upgrade so it runs faster when handling heavy files?

Thanks!

[Huffer]

8 gigs is the maximum configuration. See the Service manual here:

Manual

I certainly understand feelings for a trusty longtime companion but a laptop is a tool like any other and your work has to come first. Depending on the configuration you have it might be possible to upgrade the processor and possibly replace an integrated video card-based motherboard with a motherboard using discrete graphics but what that will do is pour a lot of money into it and still leave a machine at least three generations behind the curve and still rapidly moving toward obsolescense. Graphic design work demands a powerful machine and there is just no way to make the family truckster capable of competing in the Indy 500. 

HP makes some compelling workstation machines, in my opinion the best on the market. Take a look at the Zbook line for example. They ain't cheap but you would have something that will cut through your tasks like a hot knife through butter for years to come instead of struggling to just get by. 

Any more questions, feel free to post back. 

[Auburna]

Thank you for the answer! It's the first time I hear about the Zbook and it really does look like a heavy artilery machine. I looked around my local providers (I'm not in the US) and the one I found was HP ZBOOK 15U G2 MOBILE WORKSTATION, INTEL I7-5500U (UP TO 3.0GHZ). Do you think this is good enough for someone running the Adobe pack? Or is it a bit over the top? Thanks!

[Huffer]

I never met a computer that was over the top for me. The real question to ask beyond the processor (i7-5500U will be good enough) and RAM (you want 16 gigs of RAM of course) is the video hardware. You want a discrete video card. It does not have to be a super gaming video card but a middle of the pack video card (nVidia or AMD) with at least 1 gig of video memory makes those design productivity apps run much better. Also you definitely want a solid state drive, not a mechanical hard drive. Can you post an internet link to the machine you are talking about?

[Auburna]

Yeah, I looked around and saw that they do differentiate quite a bit. 

This: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/mpc/workstations/product-detail.html?oid=7701552#!tab=specs

or this: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/mpc/workstations/product-detail.html?oid=7701549

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

I can't figure out the difference between the one for $1999 and the one for $3115. They both have the specs I said you need including the AMD graphics card. I did not see what kind of hard drive is offered on either model. 

Assuming the $1999 one has a solid state drive I would grab it at that price. A solid state drive is about $200 and you could always add it yourself. 

[Auburna]

Thanks, I'll deffinitely go and test it live! Seems like it's worth the price 🙂