Advice for upgrading RAM and adding a second SSD into a Predator Helios 300 PH315-52

Hello everyone!

I've been looking into upgrading the RAM on my laptop as well as adding a second SSD but wanted to check a few things before I go ahead and start purchasing hardware. I've already looked around on the community here to find out some information such as that my system only supports a max of 32GB of RAM with up to 16GB of RAM per stick, so I'll need two of those for the upgrade. What has confused me to no end is determining the correct type of SSD to purchase. My system has two SSD slots, one of them already has a NVMe Kingston rbusns8 256GB in it which is my Windows boot drive as standard. What I cannot figure out now is the correct socket configuration and length for the second SSD. I can't seem to find the manual anywhere, and from my searching it seems like I have an M type socket with a 2280 length but I am quite unsure if that's accurate. Does anyone know the specifications for SSD's and if that is correct?

If I'm correct in my analysis it seems like this would be a good option for an SSD to purchase: Kingston NV1 M.2 2280 NVMe SSD 1TB (https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/880383/kingston-nv1-m-2-2280-nvme-ssd-1tb.html)

And this would be a good option for the RAM: Crucial 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 SODIMM (1x16GB) (https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/874268/crucial-16gb-2666mhz-ddr4-sodimm-1x16gb.html)

Would anyone be able to let me know if this will work and the parts are compatible? I tried using the Crucial system scanner but for some reason it is not working for me and I'm getting a scan error every time I attempt it.

Device Specifications:

Model: Predator Helios 300 PH315-52

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H CPU @ 2.60GHz (12 CPUs), ~2.6GHz

Memory: 16GB DDR4

Storage 1: NVMe Kingston rbusns8 256GB

Storage 2: Seagate FireCuda 2TB SSHD

Display 1: Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630

Display 2: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (6GB)

Thanks very much for your time and help with this issue! I really appreciate the support!

(Thread was edited to add model name to the title)

Accepted answers

JackE

Yes, m.2 SSD M-key connector socket #2 should be occupied with the Kingston NVME 22mmx80mm size card. It may also be covered with an aluminum shield.

You should also be able to add an any m.2 SSD SATA or NVME 22mmx80mm size card to M-key connector socket #1 up to 2TB.

You mainboard's maximum RAM buss frequency is 1333MHz or standard DDR 2666MHz and should be able to accept up to two 16GB DDR4 sodimms 2666MHz or higher for a 32GB RAM maximum.

Your Kingston 2280 SSD and Crucial RAM choices seem appropriate.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/0z/43u5e0mcfz6h.jpg

All comments

JackE

Yes, m.2 SSD M-key connector socket #2 should be occupied with the Kingston NVME 22mmx80mm size card. It may also be covered with an aluminum shield.

You should also be able to add an any m.2 SSD SATA or NVME 22mmx80mm size card to M-key connector socket #1 up to 2TB.

You mainboard's maximum RAM buss frequency is 1333MHz or standard DDR 2666MHz and should be able to accept up to two 16GB DDR4 sodimms 2666MHz or higher for a 32GB RAM maximum.

Your Kingston 2280 SSD and Crucial RAM choices seem appropriate.

KanagawaTomasu

I would suggest two MATCHING Ram Dimms to take advantage of DUAL Channel performance.

I can't tell by the description, whether the Kingston M2 Nvme drive you selected is Gen 3 or Gen 4. (0r even Gen 2)

I suggest that you match the same Generation that your original M2 Drive is. (Your Predator might be an older model than mine.) Both the M2 Drives in my system are Gen 4, NVme drives. (But not the same brand name.)

The Kingston Drive and the Crucial RAM are certainly good names.

Good luck. I certainly enjoyed upgrading my Predator Laptop.

William_mk2

liberator

Kindly go through the details which is captured from service manual designed for your computer.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/e5/t454kfjwjyct.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/io/ddd7rdbgd6z8.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/8d/xznxlojb4esi.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/cd/a2g0hoo9k1v3.png

I would like to provide some additional info which will really help you.

Kindly go through the details given below. The info provided below will be very helpful to get the current memory and ssd details of your computer and the options to upgrade it.

Please visit the website given below. There is an option to "start your scan " and " select your computer " . Please chose the options and try it. It will show you the memory and SSD’s details and the best upgrade options for you..

https://www.crucial.com/

It will tell you what you currently have and what you can add for memory and SSD's.

Note: If you decide to buy you can always compare the prices by visiting other websites or stores and then you can decide. We are providing the info of scan app just to show you the upgrade options. You can even download similar scan apps from other memory upgrade websites too.

To check the compatibility of ram which you can use on your computer.. Get CPUz and check it with that in SPD section of all the RAM and specs that you have, its a quick and simple way to check all OEM specs and what you have in your system.

mem.png

hdd.png

hdd and mem.png

removing hdd 2.png

System block diag.png

removing hdd.png

removing ssd .png

JackE

Yes, m.2 SSD M-key connector socket #2 should be occupied with the Kingston NVME 22mmx80mm size card. It may also be covered with an aluminum shield.

You should also be able to add an any m.2 SSD SATA or NVME 22mmx80mm size card to M-key connector socket #1 up to 2TB.

You mainboard's maximum RAM buss frequency is 1333MHz or standard DDR 2666MHz and should be able to accept up to two 16GB DDR4 sodimms 2666MHz or higher for a 32GB RAM maximum.

Your Kingston 2280 SSD and Crucial RAM choices seem appropriate.

liberator

Hello again everyone!

I want to say thank you very much for all the detailed responses and information regarding my question! The pictures and diagrams provided were very helpful and were exactly what I was trying to find! @KanagawaTomasu I'm not quite sure either how to determine the generation of my current M.2 drive as I couldn't find much information about it online but I hope it won't be an issue if they don't match, I purchased the laptop in 2019 if that helps to determine if mine is older than yours or not. I have purchased two identical RAM sticks, will I need to do anything additional during setup for dual channel performance as you mentioned? I went ahead and ordered the Kingston SSD I had in mind, and as for the RAM I wound up ordering the same Crucial model but at 3200MHz as @JackE mentioned in their response that my motherboard could support a higher frequency and the RAM was the same price. I'll be picking the hardware up in about six hours once I'm off work and will be doing the upgrade shortly afterwards to install the new SSD in the SSD1 slot and replace the RAM, I'll be sure to post an update in here once everything is set and done! Thanks again for everyone's help with this!

Commodore_1995#

@liberator It might work. But I think the speed will be limited to 2666mhz, because of the processor, see: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/br/en/ark/products/191045/intel-core-i79750h-processor-12m-cache-up-to-4-50-ghz.html

KanagawaTomasu

Liberator, After all that advice, now you get to TRY IT OUT for yourself. I think you will be fine with the parts you selected. So GO FOR IT! Install them and let us know how they work for you.

I don't want to say my laptop is now boring, but, I DON'T have any more PORTS to put NEW PARTS in. LOL

Now it will have to be SOFTWARE. (Games, etc.) In Florida, they say that a Boat is a hole in the water

to pour money into. A Computer is a hole in your desk, to pour money into. Just my kind of hobby.

Note: I purchased my Predator Laptop this year (2022). So that is why it uses "Gen 4" M2 drives. I would guess that your laptop will use Gen 2 and Gen 3 type M2 Drives. It refers to the Speed of the Bus (between the drive and the CPU) on your Motherboard. That speed will also show in the description of the M2 Drive. (You should be able to find out from your PC Specifications or directly from Acer.)

KanagawaTomasu

You can download "CPU-Z", free software. It will tell you all about your Motherboard, Your RAM, Your Graphics Card and Graphics RAM. You can learn a lot about your PC with this FREE Software.

Another FREE Software is "SPECCY." That will tell you EVERYTHING about your PC.

CPU-Z

SPECCY Both of these are FREE downloads. (Be sure to UN check the OTHER software they want to give you)

Cheers!

KanagawaTomasu

I finally thought to look at the "full specifications" of the M2 drive you purchased. The description reads "PCI-e 3.0 x 4". (PCI-e 3.0)

Your M2 Drive is Gen 3.

There you have it. GOOD to GO.

Cheers!

liberator

Hello again everyone!

My apologies for the short delay, but I wanted to provide an update on my upgrade to all of you since you were all so helpful and I couldn't have done it otherwise! Overall, it was a very fast and easy process and I didn't encounter any issues during installation or setup of the new hardware! My laptop booted back up instantly and immediately recognized the new RAM without issue, and setting up the new SSD as a simple volume drive on windows was straightforward and easy to understand. The frequency of the ram is indeed capped at 2667MHz as @egydiocoelho mentioned, but it was the same price in the end so at least if I ever move to a new system I may be able to use those in the future and just put my old RAM back into my laptop. Thanks again to everyone for the help and advice, and all the useful images and diagrams for understanding my system! I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week!