Welcome to the Upgradeable HP model page. You can quickly search our database and find your model and what upgrades you can buy to improve its performance.

Start by clicking on the "find your model series" box. A drop down list of models should appear.

Choose what series your computer belongs to, such as Pavilion DV6. Step 2 is clicking in the next box "Select a Model" and all the models in that series will appear. Scroll to choose your model.

When you find your model, selecting it will make all the upgrade options appear.

If you have any problems, please contact us via our online contact form or call our office. We appreciate all feedback, it helps improve our service.

Additional RAM(memory) will benefit any HP computer, whether it be a notebook, desktop, workstation or server. 

The amount of RAM in your system is critical in assisting your computer to process its moment to moment operations, whether that is loading applications, browsing the web or editing a spreadsheet. The more RAM you have the quicker all your files, applications, web pages, etc. will run.

As most people these days will have their computer performing many tasks at once, additional RAM will allow you to run these tasks unencumbered. Without enough RAM your system will "page" the HDD when running multiple applications; essentially using your HDD as RAM. You can overcome this issue by installing high-density modules in each memory slot for seamless multitasking.

Laptops gain an additional advantage with the installation of more memory; extended battery life. These days low voltage modules are a standard item as they deliver better performance but use less power and you can increase energy efficiency by up to 40%. Also, as previoulsy mentioned, additional RAM can eliminate regular paging of the HDD, thus saving the battery by performing tasks much quicker and far more efficiently.

This is one of the most common questions we are asked.

The short answer is yes, but only if you have a notebook or desktop.

A large majority of notebooks have 2 memory slots which can be upgraded with either one of two modules. Many of these are shipped with 2 low-density modules of matching capacity. 

However when upgrading these types of notebooks you do not have to remove both modules and put in a matching pair. It is just as effective to keep 1 of the existing modules and replace the other one with a large capacity module.

Most desktops have a similar set up. They generally have 2 or 4 memory slots that are upgradeable. Many times they are shipped with a matching pair. However when upgrading you need only to add one module at a time regardless whether the device was shipped with 1 module or 2 originally. Your HP desktop will run quite happily with 3 modules assuming it has 4 or more memory slots.

We always advise utilising RAM that matches the specifications as laid out by the manufacturer of the computer.  Many parts resellers will advertise modules that may appear be a higher spec(i.e. faster) then was originally determined by the manufacturer. However the irony is that the RAM must clock down to run at the speed determined by the BUS on the computer anyway so there is no advantage gained by installing memory modules with a higher rated speed.

As a matter of fact, what we have discovered in nearly 20 years of trading is that this is where most of the incompatibility and "faulty" RAM issues arise. Customers come to us with modules they have purchased elsewhere stating that they don't work in their computer. The reason is that the RAM is the incorrect speed and doesn't clock down to the BUS speed of the computer hence either not booting up or repeatedly crashing. The RAM is technically not faulty, it's just incompatible for the purposes of upgrading their computer.

The other issue of course is if you are installing new memory alongside existing memory modules. In many cases memory modules of differing speeds will not run together and will cause your device to be unstable, thus crashing frequently. If the existing RAM is DDR3 1066mhz, it is always best matching that specification to eliminate the possibility of any issues arising between the existing RAM and the new RAM. If you are removing the existing RAM and only installing newly purchased RAM it is still best to install the originally specified RAM as laid out by the manufacturer as you gain no advantage since the RAM will need to clock down AND of course you create the possibility of incompatibility issues.

Then you should consider replacing your existing HDD with an SSD(solid state drive)

Upgrading the memory in your computer is usually the first step to increasing it's performance. Additional memory allows you to run more applications simultaneously without the computer slowing down. It also allows you to multi-task to a much greater degree as your applications, email, web browsing, etc. all have more RAM to use to run efficiently.

However additional RAM does not solve all the issues of a "slow" computer. If you find that it takes Windows a long time to load or your spreadsheets are taking minutes before they are ready to use, then you should consider swapping out your old spinning HDD for an SSD.  

SSDs will run up to 12 times faster then a HDD and will have Windows loading and ready to use within seconds instead of minutes. All complex programs, high res video, complex audio and other large applications will load, ready to use, within seconds instead of taking several minutes before being ready to utilise.  

In a working environment, waiting minutes each time a new program loads or for your computer to be ready to use, is a time consuming and costly exercise. Added up, wait times increase to hours lost when totaled over the course of just a week. 

None of us here have that kind of time to waste, do you?

On most HP models, the sticker on the underside of the laptop contains your model number, along with other important information. Turn your laptop upside down and place it on a soft, clean surface such as a chair or couch cushion. Locate the white or silver sticker on the underside of the laptop, toward the middle of the casing. Read the sticker and look for the prefix "P/N." The number following this prefix is your computer's model number.

If that doesn't prove to be successful another place to check is inside the battery compartment. Turn the laptop upside down and locate the battery compartment near the screen hinge. Depress the lever to unlock the battery and lift it gently upward to remove it. Look for a white or silver rectangular sticker, either on the battery or in the compartment. Locate the "P/N" prefix and record the number that follows it.