 The tool should return results as to what type of RAM your laptop supports and whether an SSD upgrade is in on the cards. Crucial will, of course, recommend its own products for you to use (we highly recommend the brand), but you can use alternatives from other companies, so long as you match up specifications. Be wary when it comes to SSDs as there are multiple available. The same goes for RAM with regards to DDR2, DDR3 and DDR4. It's also worth noting that you'll need to clone the old drive to continue using your Windows installation on the new storage solution. That or you can re-install Windows on the new storage drive to start fresh. Our top equipment picksFor upgrades, take a look at our recommended options. Be sure to double check for compatibility, but this is what you should be aiming for in terms of capacity and speeds so long as your laptop can support such component upgrades. Best M.2 SSDSamsung 970 EVO PlusInsane performance at an affordable price Samsung has long been at the forefront of the SSD market and its latest is certainly the greatest, with an incredible performance backed up with a great warranty and reliability. Samsung did something incredible with the 970 EVO Plus, offering performance that matches (even supersedes) the 970 PRO but without the insane price tag. The 970 EVO Plus is based on Samsung's latest 96-layer V NAND memory, and with prices starting at less than $100 for the 256GB storage capacity, this is an extremely enticing SSD. Value SSDWestern Digital BlueGreat performance and value WD took full advantage of 3D NAND technology and came up with the latest iteration of Blue SSDs. Sporting 560 MB/s and 530 MB/s for read and write speeds, the 1TB version of the Western Digital Blue SSD offers great value. Not only do you have a choice of capacity for 2.5-inch drives, but there are also M.2 modules to choose from. Compact RAMCorsair Vengeance 16GB Kit16GBs of compact and speedy memory Crucial memory is both reliable and affordable. This 16GB kit will ensure your laptop has more than enough RAM to run multiple apps simultaneously and even tackle some of those more demanding PC games. Upgrading from 4GB or 8GB of RAM, your laptop will feel quicker and more powerful with a 16GB kit like this example from Crucial installed. You'll be able to run numerous tabs on your favorite browser, play even more demanding games (so long as you have a decent GPU) and avoid sluggish performance. Additional EquipmentYou'll need a toolkit to take apart your laptop to replace components. We've got you covered with this handy recommendation. Yougai 38-piece ($13 at Amazon)Sometimes you don't need countless screwdriver tips, a brush, cable cutter, among other tools. This is what makes the Yougai toolkit more appealing for someone who won't be tinkering with hardware too often. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Pair me a processor
These processors go great with NVIDIA's RTX 3060 GPUHave an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU? Need a CPU to go with it? Whether you prefer Intel or AMD, we have a bunch of great options right here.
Perfect pair
Have an RTX 3070 GPU? Pair it up with one of these CPUs for best results.The NVIDIA RTX 3070 is a high-end GPU that can handle modern PC games with ease. Add one of these CPUs to your build for a proper high-end rig.
DDR4 and DDR5
This is the best RAM to accompany your Intel Core i7-12700KHave a new 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700K CPU? Need some new memory that can keep up? We lay out top DDR4 and DDR5 RAM options. |
