The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Bought a refurbished "like new" HP Envy touchscreen laptop computer on eBay, which component should I upgrade first

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by wangch26, Oct 16, 2014.

  1. wangch26

    wangch26 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Bought in on eBay today for $550 and it has the following specs:

    Intel Core i7 4700MQ Processor
    Intel HD 4600 graphics
    8 GB RAM
    750 gb 5400 RPM HDD
    15.6 inch touchscreen display.

    I was thinking of upgrading either the HDD to an SSD or the RAM from 8 gigs to either 12 gigs or 16 gigs later on. Which upgrade is more worthy in your opinion?
     
    wangch26, Oct 16, 2014
    #1
  2. frysie

    frysie Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    80
    Messages:
    347
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Just do the sad. That's it
     
    frysie, Oct 16, 2014
    #2
  3. Quix Omega

    Quix Omega Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    78
    Messages:
    478
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    SSD, as for RAM 12 Gigs would be slower because it can't run in proper dual-channel mode then. No real point in having more than 8Gigs of RAM unless you're doing something like running a server (database or web, not game) or opening enormous Photoshop images or editing high-res video. If the most taxing thing you do is play games (which is how it is for most people), most of them don't even need more than 4GB of RAM but a few are starting to use a little more.
     
    Quix Omega, Oct 16, 2014
    #3
  4. Apollo13

    Apollo13 100% 16:10 Screens

    Reputations:
    1,432
    Messages:
    2,578
    Likes Received:
    210
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Yeah, the RAM upgrade would likely not be noticeable. The SSD upgrade likely would. So, assuming that an SSD of sufficient size for your needs is within your budget, I'd go with that. You can always upgrade RAM later if you need it, but you probably don't need more than 8 GB now.
     
    Apollo13, Oct 16, 2014
    #4
  5. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    SSD hands down.

    For the record, RAM will run in dual channel with 12GB, it's called asymmetrical dual channel, and been around for at least 7-8 years. But more RAM will only benefit if you fill up past 80% of your usable RAM on a regular basis.
     
    HTWingNut, Oct 17, 2014
    #5
  6. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    SSD first! You don't need more than 8GB RAM tbh...SSD will be a massive upgrade and you will instantly feel the difference...
     
    TomJGX, Oct 17, 2014
    #6
  7. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    SSD of course, usually, if you need more than 8 GB of RAM, you'll know quickly of you already know.
     
    tijo, Oct 17, 2014
    #7