Predator Helios Neo 16 [PHN16-72-55D9] RAM Upgrade

Dear All,

Good day to you!

I have just bought the above-titled laptop and is wating for it to arrive. In the meantime, I would be most thankful if you would assist me in the following queries:

1. MUST I use two RAMs from the same Brand?

2. Is it okay if I use a combination of the Original (I presume it's from SK Hynix) 16GB + Kingston 16GB (KVR56S46BS8-16)?

3. Is it mandatory to remove/unplug both the Battery Pack and the RTC/CMOS Battery before adding a ram stick? [I had previously attempted to upgrade the RAM on another laptop without unplugging the batteries, and had fried the motherboard. So I'm very concerned on this 😅]

4. What should I pay attention to when upgrading my RAM, to avoid any kind of damage?

5. Is it okay to install my old SSD (which contains Windows 10) onto the PHN16, and boot into it? Would it cause any issues？

Much thanks!

Have a nice day!

Best regards,
Lloyd

Accepted answers

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1329578#Comment_1329578

Hi, you can't install two drives both with Windows boot loaders, either drive 1 or drive 2 should have the boot loader, a M.2 case only costs RM25
Shop Latest M2 Ssd External Casing online | Lazada.com.my and MS Office 2019 Home and Student RM122 Shop Latest Microsoft Office 2019 For Home And Student online | Lazada.com.my RM249 for the 2021 version (no difference).

If this concludes your question, please mark my comment as "Yes Answered" 😉

All comments

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/721795/predator-helios-neo-16-phn16-72-55d9-ram-upgrade

Hi, Lloyd

Yes, always disconnect the battery before touching anything inside a laptop, no need to disconnect the CMOS module but it would be a good idea to disable Fast Startup and Hibernate in "Change what closing the lid does" and in "Change settings currently unavailable", then shut down, unplug the power adapter, disconnect the battery and keep the power button pressed down 10 seconds to fully discharge the system before you remove the RAM modules.

The Kingston KVR56S46BS8 RAM module uses the standard JEDEC latency DDR5-5600 timing of 46-45-45 at 1.1V and compatible with the PHN16-72 RAM system, to run in Dual Channel Mode there is no need for the modules to be of the same brand but make sure everything else is identical.

limty3899

Hi @Puraw !

Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate your assistance on this.

I hate to bother you, but I think point 5 might have been overlooked. I'd really appreciate your help with it! 😅

Thank you in advance!

Best regards,

Lloyd

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1329411#Comment_1329411

Point 5 is not a good idea: 😑
Driver Compatibility: Windows 11 machines are optimized for the latest drivers and hardware configurations. Running Windows 10 might lead to driver compatibility issues, causing hardware components to underperform or not function correctly.

Performance: Windows 11 is designed to take advantage of the latest hardware advancements. Downgrading to Windows 10 might result in suboptimal performance, as the OS may not fully utilize the hardware capabilities of the PHN16-72.

Security: Windows 11 includes enhanced security features that are not present in Windows 10. By running Windows 10, you might miss out on these advanced security measures, potentially exposing your system to vulnerabilities.

Software Compatibility: Some software applications and updates are optimized for Windows 11. Running Windows 10 might lead to compatibility issues with newer software, limiting your ability to use the latest applications and features.

Support and Updates: Microsoft focuses its support and updates on the latest OS versions. Running an older OS like Windows 10 might mean fewer updates and less support, leading to potential stability and security issues.

User Experience: Windows 11 offers a modern user interface and new features designed to improve productivity and user experience. Downgrading to Windows 10 means missing out on these enhancements.

And last but not least: Windows10 becomes obsolete after a few months, you won't receive any more updates, and you will be completely on your own for security.

limty3899

Dear @Puraw

Thank you for your explanations haha.

The reason I'm thinking to boot into my old SSD is that I want to remove Microsoft Office 2019 from my old SSD (I'm not sure if it works that way, but since I can no longer boot my old laptop, it's just a thought that I have) and then transfer the account to my new PHN16.

Also, I wanted to access my previous files without using an SSD reader.

My old SSD is Samsung's mzvlb256hbhq-000l2 (256 GB). Are you able to advise if it is compatible with PHN16-72-55D9?

Will I be able to access my files just by installing my old SSD into PHN16? Or does it have to be formatted before I can start using it ?

My current BIOS is 1.12 and the latest is 1.16. Should I update it, or take the don't fix it if it ain't broken approach?

Thanks a lot!

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1329515#Comment_1329515

Hi, just remove the old PC with Office 2019 from your MS account online, I migrated to many new laptops without physically removing old Office licenses, never had MS license issues, you can get a new Office 2021 Home and Student license for life for $40 and the New Oútlook is free and better, comes with W11 23H2. Best to mount the old SSD in an external M.2 case you can get in any PC shop and copy your files to the PHN16-72 2nd drive without downgrading a brand new Windows11 machine. No, I don't think you can just swap a boot drive with an older version of Windows and expect that the PHN16-72 will boot, dual boot will work or create a virtual drive for the old SSD. Get a USB M.2 Case. 😉

limty3899

Hi @Puraw

I checked with Microsoft Support, and they said that none of my emails has any record of Office subscription. I then checked with the laptop seller who said that the license is only for my old laptop and cannot be transferred to another laptop. Oh, well. haha.

Is the $40 license from non-official sources? It's selling for more than RM400 from official sources here in Malaysia. haha

Just to be sure, if I installed my old SSD into the second SSD slot. And I ensure that my laptop boots into the first SSD with W11, it wouldn't do any harm to my PHN16-72, and that I can access the files in my old SSD right?

I would prefer my old SSD to be used as an expansion of internal storage space, instead of external, and I can save some money from not buying an M2 Case haha.

As always, thank you for your assistance. You have been of great help!

Best Regards,
Lloyd

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1329578#Comment_1329578

Hi, you can't install two drives both with Windows boot loaders, either drive 1 or drive 2 should have the boot loader, a M.2 case only costs RM25
Shop Latest M2 Ssd External Casing online | Lazada.com.my and MS Office 2019 Home and Student RM122 Shop Latest Microsoft Office 2019 For Home And Student online | Lazada.com.my RM249 for the 2021 version (no difference).