The HP 15-dw1083wm is a versatile laptop that offers a blend of performance and value. It comes with an Intel Pentium Gold 6405U Processor, a 15.6-inch HD display, and a pre-installed Windows 10 Home operating system. The laptop also features a 128GB SSD for storage and comes with 4GB of RAM. However, to get the most out of this device, you might consider upgrading the RAM.
Specifically, upgrading the RAM of your HP 15-dw1083wm can significantly enhance its performance. More RAM allows your laptop to run more applications simultaneously without slowing down. It also improves the overall speed and responsiveness of your system, making multitasking a breeze. Whether you're browsing the web, working on large documents, or even gaming, a RAM upgrade can make a noticeable difference.
HP 15-dw1083wm RAM Upgrade Tutorial
What Type of RAM do I need? How Much Can I Install?
The HP 15-dw1083wm uses DDR4 PC4-21300 2666MHz Non-ECC SODIMM memory type. DDR4 PC4-21300 2666MHz Non-ECC SODIMM is a specification for a type of laptop memory module.
"DDR4" is the fourth generation of Double Data Rate memory technology, which is faster and more efficient than its predecessor. "PC4-21300" is a speed rating that indicates a peak transfer rate of 21300 MB/s. "2666 MHz" is the clock speed of the memory, indicating how many cycles per second the memory can perform, with a higher number equating to faster performance. Lastly, "Non-ECC" means that the memory does not have Error Correction Code, a feature that automatically corrects common types of data corruption.
As far as how much RAM you can install, this laptop comes with two slots, both of which allow up to 16 GB of RAM each (32 GB in total). Meaning that you can literally multiply your RAM by eight. We would not necessarily recommend 32 GB of RAM on this laptop but a solid upgrade of 8 GB would be very recommended.
You'll notice a massive improvement in performance by doubling the RAM. With a compatible 4 GB module you'll be able to work on more programs at the same time without experiencing any lag and therefore it's more than recommended for you to perform this upgrade.
However, if you really want to go the extra mile because you work with RAM-intensive software we would recommend upgrading to 16 GB by replacing the onboard 4GB of RAM and inserting two compatible modules of 8 GB of RAM.
Should you upgrade to 16 GB?
While the existing 4GB of RAM is sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing, upgrading to 16GB would allow for smoother multitasking, faster data processing, and improved performance in more demanding applications like video editing software or advanced multitasking with many applications open simultaneously.
If you're going down this route we would recommend removing the onboard RAM, that way you can make sure both RAM units are identical so that you may benefit from your RAM working on what's known as dual-channel memory.
Dual-channel memory is a technology that doubles the data transfer rate between the memory controller and the RAM, thereby increasing system performance. For dual-channel memory to work, you need two identical memory modules. That means they should have the same capacity, speed, and often come from the same manufacturer.
When you install identical RAM modules in the correct memory slots, the motherboard can interact with both RAM modules simultaneously, effectively doubling the memory bandwidth. This can lead to noticeable performance improvements in memory-intensive tasks and applications.
Step By Step RAM Upgrade
1. Backup Your Data: While it's extremely rare for you to loose any information when performing a RAM upgrade it's always best practice to back up your data. Though if we're being honest you'll likely be fine if you don't do that.
2. Power Down Your Laptop: Shut down your laptop completely. Don't use sleep or hibernate mode. Also, disconnect it from the power source and as an extra precaution disconnect any peripherals that you may have connected to the laptop (mouse, flash drive etc.).
3. Place the laptop on its back and remove the strips that are covering the screws. After doing that remove the actual screws attaching the bottom case to the body of the laptop. If necessary, to detach the bottom case you could use a guitar pick or even a credit card to help you separate the lid. However, this particular laptop isn't very difficult to separate the bottom case so if you've got nails you should be fine.
Very important to not use anything metallic like a knife when you're separating the bottom case as you could damage the internals of the laptop.
4. Once you've removed the bottom case you're going to quickly locate the RAM slot. Remove the Existing RAM. To do so gently pull apart the clips holding the RAM in place. The RAM should pop up at a 45-degree angle. Now you can pull it out.
If you're unsure about how to pull on the levers located on the sides here's a gif:
5. Install the New RAM: Align the notch on the new RAM module with the ridge in the RAM slot. Insert the RAM at the same angle that the old RAM popped up. Once it's in the slot, push it down until the clips snap into place. You'll hear a "click" sound, that's the sound of the clasps "grabbing" the RAM. You should do it twice if you're installing two RAM modules. Here's an illustration of another upgrade where you can see how the RAM should align:
And here's what it looks like when you introduce a new RAM module onto the HP 15-dw1083wm.
6. Once you've inserted the RAM module and you've heard the "click" then you can re-attach the bottom case of the laptop. Make sure to re-attach all of the screws and place the plastic strip. This isn't specifically necessary for the upgrade, just an aesthetic issue.
7. Now that you've closed up your laptop go ahead and turn it back on. After you've installed the new RAM in your laptop, you can check if the upgrade was successful and if your system is utilizing the new memory properly through the following steps:
System Information: On your laptop, you can check the total amount of RAM recognized by your system. On a Windows laptop, you can do this by opening the "System Information" app or by simply right-clicking on "This PC" and selecting "Properties". The installed memory (RAM) will be listed there.
Task Manager: You can also check the Task Manager. In Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, then click on the "Performance" tab. Once there head over to "Memory", here, you'll see your memory usage and the total amount of RAM installed.
And that's it, you have successfully managed to upgrade the RAM on the HP 15-dw1083wm. With double the RAM you'll be able to have a much more comfortable workflow and you'll be able to run twice as many programs without running into any lags. Enjoy!