Here’s a small guide with tips and precautions to answer the following questions: How to update my laptop: Be careful which components you update.
Updating your laptop can be simple or complex: it depends on your model. Manufacturers have the freedom to design their models, which means we’ll find laptops that are easy to operate while others are very fiddly. First, I recommend searching for your model on YouTube to see if any YouTuber has opened it.
Things to note before updating your laptop
The prudent man deserves 2the Spanish proverb wisely says, and here we can apply it 100%.
Understand your model’s specifications to understand areas for improvement
When asked how to update your laptop, the first thing you should look at is your laptop’s specifications. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Check your laptop’s technical sheet or manual.
- With CPU-Z and HWiNFO.
- Search Windows system information.
From here we will see if it is worth expanding the RAM since we only have 4 GB, if the hard drive is too small since it is less than 500 GB, etc.
Find information on how to open your laptop
In most cases we must Open the laptop and replace the SSD or RAM, so we must know how to do it. You’ll find laptops that open via the keyboard, others that open from the back…there are multiple methods depending on the model.
That’s why it’s so important Find information about a model before opening it; There are very detailed how-to videos on YouTube for Lenovo, Asus and HP, and this seems to be the most popular. It no longer just helps you know how to open it, but also helps you correctly locate every component on the motherboard.
If you are unscrewing, identify where each screw is: they are not the same!
Rookie mistake, I did it myself, so don’t do it yourself. You have to unscrew the laptop to see inside and replace components, so you activate DIY mode and start unscrewing like crazy.
When it’s time to close it, you’ll find that one screw is loose, another doesn’t fit, etc.Although there are not many manufacturers, All screws are usually differentexcept for certain specific models.
So, color the screws or put them somewhere where you can remember where each one goes: taking pictures will help.
Pay attention to compatibility when replacing components
Don’t go on a RAM and SSD shopping spree as these brands have products for both desktops and laptops.As far as RAM goes, check what technology it is (DDR4, DDR5, etc.), how much the motherboard can support, what frequencies it supports, and what SO-DIMM.
about SSDsome models come with M.2 slot and other factors that force us to choose the 2.5-inch SSD.Be careful with the first one as there are different form factors M.2 SSD (e.g. 2280), you must purchase one that is compatible with your laptop.
Then, check if your M.2 SSD slot is compatible with PCIe 3.0, 4.0 or 5.0 as we can make better use of it. If it is PCIe 4.0, it is recommended to choose PCIe 4.0 SSD to make full use of our existing specifications.
How do I update my laptop without freezing it?
Let’s see how I can update my old laptop and give it a “spring” and see if it can run faster.
CPU and GPU are out of the question: laptops will die with them
The first bad news: you can’t replace the CPU or GPU because they’re soldered to the motherboard via sockets ball grid array. And a dedicated GPU? Same thing, it’s soldered, but at another point on the board, so we can’t change them.
This means laptops will die with them in the future.
RAM Memory: If it is LPDDR, there is no way to improve it
i forgot to mention LPDDR RAM memory The information we see on Chromebooks, lower-end models, or some Microsoft Surfaces cannot be changed. It’s also soldered, so we’re just upgrading regular RAM; but SO-DIMM, get that etched in your mind.
¿How to upgrade if your laptop has DDR3?Want to buy DDR3 memory, but I would only recommend it if you are using your laptop for office work and only for other purposes. This type of memory is still in large supply, so if our expectations are low, it’s not a bad choice.
You already know that DDR3 can only use DDR3, but DDR4 can also be used. None of these technologies support other types of memory.
SSD: If it’s M.2, please note the form factor, does your model have a slot?
We’ve warned about this before in our concerns How to update my laptopbut for the uninitiated, the next step is to check if the model has an M.2 slot.
The M.2 slot looks like this: It connects directly to the motherboard, so its interface is PCI-Express.
All that’s left is to check the form factors (divided in millimeters) that the laptop is compatible with and buy a laptop that’s not terribly cheap. I say the latter because a lot of people update their laptops with unfamiliar brand SSDs, creating instability and performance issues.
Don’t you know the brand? Here is a list of SSD brands I recommend:
- Samsung.
- Kaixia.
- Kingston.
- Man: Yes.
- WD or Western Digital.
- Critical.
- Seagate.
- SanDisk.
- ADATA.
- Gigabyte.
- Pani.
- patriot.
- Team group.
- Beyond.
- Silicon Power.
If you buy these brands of SSD for your laptop (I may be forgetting a few), you shouldn’t have any problems.
Do you want to upgrade your laptop’s hard drive? Although I don’t recommend it, I tell you that the hard drive must also be 2.5 inches.
You can use 2 hard drives on your laptop unless your model doesn’t allow it
Older laptops come with a CD-ROM tray to install the drive, so we can only install an SSD or HDD, right? So many people will think that you will lose data from your old HDD or SSD, but what if I told you that you can keep the hard drive and install a new one next to it?
The price that needs to be paid is Replace the CD-ROM tray with a 2.5-inch SSD adapter. You can find such adapters on PcComponentes or Amazon.
Last updated on October 7, 2023
Replace your laptop keyboard: only if it’s worth it
I don’t expect laptops to improve, nor do the keyboards themselves, but sure, if you have a famous model (it’s a super seller, come on) and you notice that the keys are very difficult to replace… The keyboard is useful.
Of course, you have to go to Amazon or eBay, especially outside sellers, where you can try your luck. Personally, I don’t really recommend it because you might get stuck during the replacement process. Likewise, you can go to technical service to make changes, but the cost is higher.
Screen could be updated but is for very advanced users
This is definitely a DIY job, but it can be done. A common problem seen is the cable from the screen to the laptop, which often causes problems in certain models. You can watch some videos that do this and explain the steps in detail.
If it’s possible and you dare, why not? Of course, keep in mind that in 90% of cases this will void the product warranty. So consider it only if your laptop is old.
Windows 11, yes or no?
Will upgrading to Windows 11 make your laptop fly? Not at all, so I don’t think this is an important point when answering the question of how to update my laptop.
It depends on taste: I still use Windows 10, but I know that eventually I will use Windows 11, because everything has a beginning and an end.
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