Considering adding additonal RAM and adding NVMe SSD to my AN 515-52-56HJ

Quadratojugal

My model has a i5-8300h, 15.6 IPS 144Hz monitor, 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD, 4GB GTX 1050Ti, and 4GB RAM. (yep, i know)

I'm looking to add a RAM into the available slot. I just want to know if my model has single or dual channel SODIMM slots? Knowing whether it's a single or dual channel would greatly decide what RAM will I buy for the additional SODIMM slot.

Next is my PCI-e slots 4 lanes or 2 lanes? I know that NVMe is compatible with my model. I just want to know if my model has x4, x2, or even x1 lanes because it would be useless to buy a Samsung 970 if I can't make use of it's full potential. I already tried Hwinfo64 and it says Gen3.0 with 1x lanes but multiple users say that this is inaccurate and you would have no way of knowing.

Any answers are greatly appreciated.

Regards,

JordanB

Hello,

I see that I've left you with some doubt.    The userbenchmark link was not for i7.  It was the same i5 and 1050ti that you have.

Your computer model is not "downscaled" from a potential capability standpoint. 

Your computer model is capable of supporting M.2 PCIe NVMe ssd with 4 lanes. 

Your computer model is capable of dual channel (assuming you install compatible memory). 

I would recommend the DDR4-2666 memory from link below. 

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Acer/nitro-5-an515-52

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KNKBQ1?tag=price17016-20&ascsubtag=wtbs_5d26b57cb00bcf347da9ce85&th=1

If I were buying an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD for your laptop, I would probably get the Intel 660p in link below.  It's not the fastest, but it gets pretty good reviews for sustained write speed.  Almost as good as samsung in that area but is less expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-660p-1-0TB-80mm-978350/dp/B07GBKQ9ST/ref=pd_cp_147_1?pd_rd_w=vkVfD&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=BW75JQCYDDRNY5KWGJ6S&pd_rd_r=0823dee8-a3b4-11e9-8b3f-05565185fef1&pd_rd_wg=NJFJT&pd_rd_i=B07GCL6BR4&refRID=BW75JQCYDDRNY5KWGJ6S&th=1

JordanB

@Quadratojugal

Hello,

If you click on the link below, you'll see someone with basically the same computer as you.

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/16333888

They were able to achieve an NVMe SSD read speed of 2588 so that would be 4 lanes.  As far as I know, it wouldn't be possible to achieve 2588 with only 2 lanes.

They added an additional stick of ram and based on the read speed of 30.5, that would be dual channel.  It's highly unlikely that they would be able to achieve 30.5 with only single channel.

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Acer/nitro-5-an515-52

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KP8CGJ?tag=price17016-20&ascsubtag=wtbs_5d26b57cb00bcf347da9ce85&th=1

Quadratojugal

@JordanB

Thank you for replying. 

I understand that the model you put into example is also a Nitro 5, but does all AN515-52 all have the same degree of upgrade compatibilities? Although my model is a AN515-52, it is just a base model with i5-8300h and 4GB GTX 1050Ti, far from those higher ends with core i7. I'm asking this because I assume that Acer is downscaling base models upgrade compatiblity. (single channel only, m.2 sata only not NVMe)

Thanks and regards,

JordanB

Hello,

I see that I've left you with some doubt.    The userbenchmark link was not for i7.  It was the same i5 and 1050ti that you have.

Your computer model is not "downscaled" from a potential capability standpoint. 

Your computer model is capable of supporting M.2 PCIe NVMe ssd with 4 lanes. 

Your computer model is capable of dual channel (assuming you install compatible memory). 

I would recommend the DDR4-2666 memory from link below. 

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Acer/nitro-5-an515-52

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KNKBQ1?tag=price17016-20&ascsubtag=wtbs_5d26b57cb00bcf347da9ce85&th=1

If I were buying an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD for your laptop, I would probably get the Intel 660p in link below.  It's not the fastest, but it gets pretty good reviews for sustained write speed.  Almost as good as samsung in that area but is less expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-660p-1-0TB-80mm-978350/dp/B07GBKQ9ST/ref=pd_cp_147_1?pd_rd_w=vkVfD&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=BW75JQCYDDRNY5KWGJ6S&pd_rd_r=0823dee8-a3b4-11e9-8b3f-05565185fef1&pd_rd_wg=NJFJT&pd_rd_i=B07GCL6BR4&refRID=BW75JQCYDDRNY5KWGJ6S&th=1

Quadratojugal

Thank you @JordanB! You have been very helpful.

That is all. Godspeed!

Thanks and best regards,

JordanB

You're welcome.

On second thought, maybe I would go with the Samsung 970 evo plus.  I found a comparison and the samsung is a lot faster (but is definitely more expensive).

https://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-970-Evo-Plus-NVMe-PCIe-M2-500GB-vs-Intel-660p-NVMe-PCIe-M2-512GB/m700020vsm557263