A515-51G-C97B - MEMORY RAM UPGRADE

Pwneb

Guys, I'm in a dilemma.

I have an A515-51G-C97B and I have already installed the m2 SSD, which has dramatically improved performance.

However, due to the vast number of programs I use simultaneously (several browsers with multiple tabs in each, text editors, email clients, several messaging apps, video editor, and even an idle game… etc.), which makes that the computer unresponsive from time to time, which interrupts music or videos that are playing, temporarily freezes the screen, etc.

Yes, I know the answer in my case would be to simply close some applications and everything would be solved.

But I can't do that, as my job requires me to keep track of numerous things simultaneously. I've used a desktop to divide tasks, running some of these applications on it and IT WORKED, however, I don't have this equipment available anymore, and I also need to concentrate everything on my laptop, unfortunately.

In short, guys, I understand that the device works well on tasks, but it seems to run out of memory due to the amount of applications.

So I started to consider the possibility of RAM expansion.

I did a lot of research on the internet, but the only place I found anything related was on this forum. However, I confess that I didn't understand it very well, as some recommend that the memory should be expanded, as it supports up to 20 GB, while others say that in addition to doing this will not only fail to work, it will also decrease the machine's performance.

I don't know much about the topic, so for me, it's strange to imagine that the increase in RAM decreases the capacity of the equipment, but maybe that's the view I have of DESKTOP machines, and it probably works differently in the world of LAPTOPs.

So I wanted to ask you guys, if I may:

1. Is it worth expanding the memory of the A515-51G-C97B to gain performance?

Purpose of the upgrade: everyday programs, video editing and recording, streaming and games (such as fallout 4, shadow of Mordor, shadow of war, Skyrim, Dragon Age 3, Witcher 2 and 3, etc.)

2. If it's worth upgrading, how much memory should I buy? What are the specs? 2400, 2133 etc.

Thanks in advance, folks. I don't have the money to change notebooks at the moment, since I need one that can handle at least a little of graphic applications. So the only investment that I can make is in memory ram to make him better.
I like this laptop a lot, so I want to make it more adaptable to my current use to last another two years or more.

brummyfan2

Hi,
Yes, as you are running out of memory you can upgrade to 20GB(4GB onboard+16GB) with a 16GB DDR4 2400MHz module.
https://uk.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/acer/aspire-a515-51g

Easwar

Hi @Pwneb,

However, I confess that I didn't understand it very well, as some recommend that the memory should be expanded, as it supports up to 20 GB, while others say that in addition to doing this will not only fail to work, it will also decrease the machine's performance.

ttttt

@Pwneb

You are such a powerful user, really stretching the limits of your laptop.
According to this link:

https://quenotebookcomprar.com.br/acer-a515-51g-c97b-review-completo/

Probably you don't need translations of that page.

You can add (I think it may be replacing the existing 4GB module) 16GB RAM of the same spec of the soldered RAM to the user accessible slot to make it 20 GB total.

I think what you said "while others say that in addition to doing this will not only fail to work, it will also decrease the machine's performance." will only happen if you are mismatching the spec of the RAM by using a lower speed RAM so the original soldered RAM has to be downgraded to match this lower speed.

Normally, adding RAM matching original soldered RAM spec will enable dual channel perormance and will improve the performance somewhat, not the othher way.

StevenGen

Just as an addition and another solution is to do a Crucial System Scanner that will give you all the appropriate and best memory and drive upgrades that Crucial make for your laptop, which is very reliable with the more up to date memory that will work with your laptop. 

Pwneb

ttttt said:

@Pwneb

You are such a powerful user, really stretching the limits of your laptop.
According to this link:

https://quenotebookcomprar.com.br/acer-a515-51g-c97b-review-completo/

Probably you don't need translations of that page.

You can add (I think it may be replacing the existing 4GB module) 16GB RAM of the same spec of the soldered RAM to the user accessible slot to make it 20 GB total.

I think what you said "while others say that in addition to doing this will not only fail to work, it will also decrease the machine's performance." will only happen if you are mismatching the spec of the RAM by using a lower speed RAM so the original soldered RAM has to be downgraded to match this lower speed.

Normally, adding RAM matching original soldered RAM spec will enable dual channel perormance and will improve the performance somewhat, not the othher way.

Oh, hi there!

Well, about that, I'm very confuse at the moment because of the cross information that I read here. I believe that I'm the one that didn't get it, but that's why we're here in this post, I suppose.

Here's the link about someone asking for almost the same thing as me:

A515-51G-C97B: Dúvidas sobre memória RAM... — Acer Community

It is in Portuguese, in my native language, but with the help of a translator, I think it should be enough to understand the confusion in my head.

The user MaClane talks about the Flex and Dual channel of the memory ram. For what I understood, any amount of ram that you put in the laptop will go on the flex mode and the allocation of data will be distributed randomly. This means that having some in the dual channel, operating at double speed, while the rest will be in a single channel, taking twice the time to process. Again, what I UNDERSTOOD is that you'll gain extra space to your applications, but the performance will decrease in the end.

While I was writing this, it occurs to me one thing. Maybe what he did means was that you could face a slow performance of certain apps compared to operating them in the native RAM because of the dual channel, but the laptop would be able to handle all of them, nevertheless?

Or I got it all wrong and if I put a 16 GB memory ram card with the right specs this dual channel system will kick in and the performance will continue the same but improved with the extra space?

Help this poor fella, guys.