If you're anything like me, a laptop likely serves as your primary (if not sole) computing device. Its portability makes it indispensable for travel. However, just like everything else, laptops also succumb over time.
If your laptop feels outdated and you want to breathe new life into it so it remains usable for several more years, think about upgrading some components. Despite not being as modular as a Framework laptop, most laptops are capable of receiving upgrades. some of its components.
However, which components of the laptop are they referring to? worth Upgrading? Which upgrades should you consider, and which can be safely ignored? Continue reading as I break it all down, so you might not need to purchase a new laptop right away.
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What aspects of laptops aren't upgradable?
Upgrading laptops can be tricky business. With so many components packed into such tight spaces, laptops are notably more restrictive compared to desktops — and those tight confines force manufacturers to make different design decisions. Practically, that often means meant-to-be-permanent builds with minimal DIY upgrade options.
To put it differently, some components of laptops cannot be upgraded at all. However, a rapid online search could lead you astray. I've even witnessed Lenovo recommend That "virtually any part within your laptop can be upgraded if needed," including the CPU and GPU.
The sad truth is that CPUs and GPUs are almost never upgradeable in laptops because they’re usually bonded to their motherboards. And on older laptops, displays are effectively impossible to replace because they’re hard to get to and much more involved. Even with embedded DisplayPort, it may not be as straightforward as other upgrades.
Ultimately, this means you don’t have many options for speeding up your laptop and improving the overall experience, which sucks when it starts to lag, when it can’t keep up with the increasing demands of modern apps, when it starts to feel old and outdated.
That said, let’s dive into the most commonly upgraded laptop parts and which ones to upgrade depending on what issues you’re facing.
Related: Frequent errors that shorten your laptop's life span
Is it worthwhile to upgrade your laptop's RAM?
A lot of laptops still offer upgradable memory, although this feature is increasingly rare nowadays. Should your laptop use LPDDR memory, chances are high that it's permanently attached to the motherboard and can't be upgraded. However, if there isn't an "LP" designation, you might have the option for upgrades available to you.
However, it can be challenging to determine the type of RAM you possess since it isn't always clearly stated. You could consult your laptop’s manufacturer for clarification. Alternatively, if you're feeling bold, you might consider opening the underside panel of your laptop to examine it directly.
Artiom Vallat / Unsplash
Upgradable laptop memory resembles the green circuit board shown in the image above. Additionally, within this photograph, there’s an empty memory slot located to the left of the currently installed memory—excellent information for people considering upgrades since they have room to add another memory module.
Related: How to tell what kind of RAM you have
A RAM upgrade is one of the best improvements you can make to a laptop. Think of RAM as like your desk and SSD storage as like a file cabinet. The bigger your desk, the more space you have for open files; when you run out of desk space, additional files are kept in the file cabinet. If your desk space is too small, you end up having to move files back and forth from the cabinet to your desk.
When your laptop lacks sufficient RAM, this issue arises. Once the available RAM becomes full, extra data has to overflow into significantly slower storage devices instead. Transferring information between these slower drives and the RAM then tends to become time-consuming. Insufficient RAM leads to a noticeable decrease in performance; your computer may seem unresponsive and sluggish. You could also experience frozen applications when switching back to them because their data needs to be retrieved again from the RAM.
Certain applications might demand more Random Access Memory (RAM) than what is available on your device, causing them to crash outright. Think of attempting to assemble a large jigsaw puzzle on a small desk—there isn’t sufficient room for everything. In such scenarios, increasing your RAM could solve the issue.
Keep in mind that despite having upgradable memory, not all RAM modules will work in your laptop. Ensure you use a compatible RAM type, as you might need to remove your present memory module if your laptop features only one RAM slot. See our full guide to upgrading laptop RAM .
Related: How much RAM do you need in a laptop?
Is it worth upgrading a laptop’s SSD?
Laptop storage comes in many shapes and sizes. If you have an older laptop, it’s possible you’re still looking at a spinning hard drive (HDD) inside your system. But most modern laptops have switched to faster solid-state drives (SSD), which can be downright tiny in comparison.
Unfortunately, the increasing trend towards miniaturization has led to limited opportunities for upgrades. However, this is not always the case.
Gordon Mah Ung / IDG
Upgrading from an HDD to an SSD is among the most valuable improvements you can undertake for your laptop if it is equipped with an HDD. Should you possess a 2.5-inch SATA HDD, consider swapping it for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD; doing so will significantly boost your system’s performance through quicker startup times, swifter application loading, and enhanced file transfer speeds. Additionally, when your RAM has to shuttle information between different storage areas, this upgraded storage solution will lend a hand in accelerating those processes as well.
Related: How to duplicate an HDD onto an SSD without cost
If your laptop already includes an SSD, deciding whether to upgrade depends on your individual preferences and requirements. If you primarily engage in gaming or undertake creative tasks, the increased speed provided by a quicker storage device becomes quite noticeable, particularly when upgrading from SATA to NVMe. However, if your main objective is merely boosting file transfer rates, an SSD might not address the biggest limitation; instead, consider the capabilities of the ports available on your machine. Despite having advanced connections like Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, these still do not offer enough bandwidth to keep pace with numerous PCIe 4.0 SSDs.
If you already have an SSD in your laptop and aren’t working on bandwidth-intensive projects, your reasons to upgrade are even fewer. Basically, the main reason to upgrade here would be increased storage capacity. Since many laptops come with just 128GB or 256GB, you might think it’s worthwhile to upgrade to 512GB, 1TB, or more, especially because SSDs lose performance when capacity fills up.
If you already own an SSD for your laptop and it still has an empty storage slot, it might be beneficial to get a secondary drive. Keep in mind though that this extra component will use some of the battery power, thus slightly affecting your laptop’s overall battery life.
When considering additional storage options, think about what you'll be using the space for as well. If your priority involves saving games or applications, it would make more sense to opt for internal storage. However, when you're archiving documents, photos, and videos, consider external Storage devices such as flash drives and portable solid-state drives (SSDs).
If you choose to proceed with this and require assistance, consider exploring our resources. complete handbook for installing or swapping out an SSD in your notebook .
Related: How much SSD space do you really need?
Is it worthwhile to upgrade the network card?
Were you aware that you can enhance your laptop’s networking capabilities by upgrading its network card? You might not have known about the existence of this component. The network card facilitates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connections for your laptop, making it one of the least recognized upgradable parts available.
Mika Baumeister / Unsplash
If your old laptop has an obsolete network adapter limited to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or perhaps even earlier versions like Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), consider upgrading to one supporting Wi-Fi 6 or 6E (802.11ax). This upgrade can offer enhanced speeds and better reliability.
If you're having issues with your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity and nothing seems to resolve these troubles through standard troubleshooting methods, then perhaps replacing the device is necessary.
Upgrading a network card can be challenging because you must verify compatibility. This involves ensuring your laptop features the appropriate slot and antennas for the desired network card, as well as confirming that your operating system supports more advanced technologies like modern Wi-Fi standards—older systems might lack this capability.
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