What 8 GB RAM for HP Envy Spectre 14-3100?

Hey people,

I'm considering updating my HP from 4 GB to 8GB. Now I've been told there's only one slot, but I'm unsure what type of memory should I buy and from which manufacturer?

Crucial's website recommends this item (DDR3L-1600 PC3L-12800 SODIMM) My onboard diagnostics say I have 4GB of 1600 MHz memory.

Are Crucials okay or should I look for something else?

Thanks again

 

With few exceptions, RAM is RAM. Crucial is about as good as you'll find.


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RAM is RAM is RAM, I'd just us whatever is the least expensive. You could technically put in slower RAM like 1333MHz if you wanted, but the common standard for DDR3 seems to be 1600MHz anyway.

 

I have upgraded a few systems with 'any RAM' and got a less responsive system overall, even if the productivity of the platform increased (from 2x to 4x+ the original RAM capacity after the 'upgrade').

If you value snappiness, buy the best RAM modules you can afford (highest clocks, lowest latency) even if the platform clocks them down to where it wants them to work at. The system's snappiness is easily worth it for me over the life cycle of the platform (used every day...) - even if the better RAM cost double.

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ull-speed-help-screenshots-appreciate.699186/


Buy a few modules with full return privileges and keep the one that gives you the most stable and the most snappy performance (it should be at least as snappy as your current setup...) - and don't forget to test the RAM for 24 hrs or more before deciding.

When the price of the component is sub $40 - spending even more than double (which you won't have to do...) makes perfect sense considering that you'll be seeing the benefits every single time you use the computer for the next few years.

Or, if you are one of the few that can't notice (or don't care for) a well matched/balanced setup - save a few dollars today but pay with it with incrementally slower performance for the life of the system you're putting it in.

In the best case scenario; a specific notebook will run well with any RAM (as suggested above). But in the worst case? It will be almost like a laggy SSD from circa 2009...

Good luck.

 

I have no idea what the latency of my standard RAM is. I've seen both CL9 and CL11 modules for sale, which one do you reckon is better?

I'm assuming the 1866 Mt/s version of the Crucial might offer better performance?

I've also found these:
Kingston HyperX Impact HX316LS9IB/8 ram 8GB 1600MHz DDR3L CL9 SODIMM 1,35V
Samsung 8GB (1 x 8GB) 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3L-12800, 1600MHz ram


Unfortunately, I don't think sellers' return policies will allow me to test different modules, and dismantling my Spectre 14-3100 is too big an operation to do repeatedly.

 

I would then try to find different vendor (with a proper return policy...).

Can you test the different RAM without having to fully assemble the Spectre all the way?

 

Not really - the maintenance guide recommends removing the motherboard altogether. Maybe I'll just take my chances with the Kingston HyperX.

Is there a some sort of a freeware program that I could use to measure system performance before and after?

 

Kingston has pretty decent RAM from experience, I have used their SODIMMs and DIMMs multiple times without issues. Honestly, system performance in terms of RAM access times will not really change, but the extra RAM will make a difference for sure. Out of my 32 GB on the M6700, 5.8 are currently in use and 23.3 are used as standby memory, that standby memory will make programs which are closed launch faster, etc. because they are still technically in memory, the standby memory gets flushed as needed by active programs. The difference will not be night and day, but it'll make your workflow smoother.

 

Kingston is my brand of choice too! Love their Hyper X RAM!!

 

You don't need any program to measure before/after performance going from 4GB to 8GB of RAM.

Just use the notebook normally for an extended period while waiting for the new SoDimms to ship and then do the same 'workflow' after you have upgraded the RAM.

If the 'extended' test period is over a couple of hours or more and uses all your programs that are installed/used; you'll see a difference without needing a bm 'score' to verify the benefits.

In my case, I see a difference from the first boot with greater than 8GB of RAM installed on a system (yeah; it's that noticeable to me).

And the HyperX is the one I would go for too.

 

I just buy cheapest off eBay. RAM is RAM. In reality they perform the same in all tasks except iGPU gaming; when iGPU gaming is concerned, it's memory bandwidth (frequency) what matters, and fancy modules require BIOS support to perform their best in the first place - which I doubt exists on a consumer HP.

 

Not true at all.

See the link in post#4 of this thread.

(Bold & italics mine in quote below).

 

@tilleroftheearth I did miss a point or two indeed. What I was trying to say there is no point in getting overclocker RAM (e.g. HyperX) since the machine in question is very unlikely to push it over 1600MHz, and all the user would get from it after paying twice or more is slightly better timings providing negligible performance boost; of course one should buy 1600MHz DDR3L PC-12800, not 1333Mhz DDR3L PC-10600 modules - but they cost the same anyway.

 

Right now Kingston HyperX is in fact the cheapest (£28,99) RAM I could find, like, anywhere. I think I'll place an order and report back to this thread once I've had it fitted.

Thanks everybody!