Can we use external RAM for laptop and fed up with your laptop’s slow speed and thinking to use external RAM to improve it, then you might end up disappointed! Because RAM is there in your laptop for some purpose, its job is to retrieve data and aid in tasks performed by the processor.
This speed ups the processing of the overall unit. The interface supplying power to RAM is located in the motherboard, and RAM is essentially required to stay near the processor as it acts as a storekeeper for the processor. Hence, it can be said that NO! You cannot add RAM externally to your laptop.
- Nowadays, new laptop models are exceptions to the answer given above. Gaming laptops are coming with Memory sticks having Memory bandwidths. They have additional open slots where you can add 4GB, 8GB RAM modules to speed up your laptops.
If it is so, then how to speed up the slow processors? Thinking of using USB drives, or making use of hard drives, none of these work. Yet, you can go to upgrade your RAM, for its speed improvement, or use Window Ready Boost via a USB port on your system.
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Using Windows Ready Boost:
Window Ready Boost is used as an alternative if you don’t want to upgrade your RAM. But, be mindful that as Ready Boost is connected via a USB port, the data rates received by these ports are very low when compared with RAM.
The data limit of USB 2 is 480Megabits/second, with a data transfer speed of 60 Megabytes per second. While USB 3 has 620 Megabytes/second data transfer rate, with a limit of 5 Gigabits/second data handling.
Having said that, many argue that Window Ready Boost is not enough to get the job done. Moreover, it is fatal for the flash drive that you are going to use as RAM.
How to Speed Up the laptop:
Now, the question rising in your mind is” How can I speed up my processor”. Well, you can speed up your processor by upgrading the RAM, using internal RAM sticks in case your laptop model offers RAM slots or using thermal paste.
Using Thermal Paste:
Using thermal pastes requires some professional expertise. This paste is just a grease whose job is to eliminate the heat pockets generated in your CPU because of certain microscopic gaps. These microscopic gaps trap hot air and in turn, the processor overheats pushing your laptop fan to work hard.
To mention, this hack works on old laptops only. It is because this thermal paste gets dry with the passage of time affecting laptop speed and getting hotter quickly.
But, I would like to say cautiously that replacing the thermal paste will have a minimal effect on your laptop speed and that too be on old laptops, yet it is a very cost-effective solution to your problem.
- Using thermal paste will improve your laptop speed and will cause a 15 degrees decrease in the overall temperature of your CPU.
Upgrade Your RAM:
You can improve the memory of your laptop by simply adding an SSD card, or can go to upgrade your RAM. To upgrade your RAM, you need to check if the laptop model you are trying to modify offers the open slot to upgrade their memory.
Most commonly laptops come with 4GB memory in a single DDR4 SO-DIMM module with one slot open. If you are working with an Operating system for daily normal operations with Windows 10, we recommend you to have at least 4 GB memory and for more heavy jobs it is recommended to have 8 GB memory for the smooth running of the system.
- Latest gaming laptops have processors with memory channels known as Memory Sticks. As the amount of sticks increases, the memory bandwidth of your laptop increases. So, to enjoy the 3D gaming effect on your laptop, you can add 2nd memory stick on the 2nd slot available in such system processors.
Installing Laptop RAM:
Check for the slot availability and once it’s confirmed that your laptop offers an open slot to add RAM, hit the road and get DDR4 modules, or SO-DIMMS, as additional RAM, sold in different bandwidths and speeds.
Normally used laptop memory speeds nowadays are DDR4/2133 and DDR4/2400. Out of these two, DDR4/2400 is a high speed yet supported only by 8th generation Core I3 models. So, before buying it you surely need to check if your laptop will support this RAM or not.
Well, we recommend you to go for a brand module that offers a warranty that you can claim later. Moreover, be mindful of your laptop’s current capacity i-e if your laptop currently has a 4GB stick in one slot, it is highly recommended to go for a 4GB module as an additional RAM and get a bandwidth capacity of 8GB as a whole.
Now, as you have selected the RAM module that you are going to install, let’s discuss the steps involved in the installation:
- Safety first, make sure to shut down your system completely and plug out all the wires.
- Remove the back pane (basement) of your laptop using a screwdriver. Be cautious and put on your safety gear like an antistatic wrist strap to avoid any electrical hazards.
- Check out the open slot available for your module. You will see a nub in the slot that should be identical to the module notch. Once you will align the module in the slot, it will fit automatically. You don’t need to push hard to force it to get set in the slot.
- It is always recommended to hold the module from the sides via thumbs as it facilitates the overall fixing of the module. Once your module is aligned, tilt it a bit and you will hear a small click sound. This sound ensures that the side snap arms have got into space too.
- To ensure the perfect settings, use your fingernail and try to lift a module a bit, if it’s not dangling that means your module is ready to go.
- You can also replace the old module with the new one, using the same producer. Just tilt the module up for a few millimeters and unlock the side snaps metal wire. As soon as you unlock the side snaps, springs underneath the module will bang it out and here your slot is empty for the new one.
Conclusion:
To conclude, if someone asks you that “Can we use external RAM for Laptop”, reply mindfully! Because, this addition is completely subjective to the availability of the open slot for RAM in your laptop module, and that so is present in most of the current gaming laptops.
For the rest of the laptop models, it’s still a big No! You cannot use external RAM for the laptop, but can always upgrade it.