What are the specific specs for RAM and SSD for Aspire A515-54 series - A515-54-51CM?

Hello guys

My cousin has this laptop Acer Aspire A515-54 series Model NO. N18Q13 Model Number A515-54-51CM

8GB de RAM
512GB o 1TB capacity (to confirm)
Intel Core i5-10210U CPU @ 1 .60Ghz
Windows 11 Pro

My uncle bought a new laptop and my cousin now wants install Linux in this Acer but before he wants do an upgrade of Hardware

I did do a research in www.acer.com

https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/A515-54/NX.HMDAL.007/details?sn=NXHMDAL007XXXXXXXXXXXX
https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/A515-54/NX.HMDAL.007/details?sn=XXXXXXXXXXX

Sadly the specs for RAM and SSD are not detailed.

Therefore the reason of this post is We need to know the following

RAM

Is viable remove the 2 sticks of RAM? Or one is soldered?
Can be used DDR4L instead of DDR4?
What is the MHz required?
What is the maximum RAM capacity? 32G? (2*16)

SSD

A. What is the kind of SSD used? SSD 2.5' or SSD PCIe?

B. If is SSD PCIe: What generation is required?

C. If is SSD PCIe: How many lanes are required?

Pls, answer each question.

Thanks in advance

[Edited the thread to hide sensitive content]

Accepted answers

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Jack22

@ManuelJordan

Below is the RAM upgrade info:

Below is the SSD upgrade:

ManuelJordan

Hello Jack22

Really huge thanks for the valuable information. 🍺

Just being curious, what is your source of all that information?

And doing a summary

RAM

Is viable remove the 2 sticks of RAM? Or one is soldered? No, Yes
Can be used DDR4L instead of DDR4? Unknow yet
What is the MHz required? 2133/2400 Mhz
What is the maximum RAM capacity? 32G? (2*16) 20GB as 4GB + 16GB

Storage

A. What is the kind of SSD used? SSD 2.5' or SSD PCIe?

The laptop works with 2 devices as SSD and HDD

B. If is SSD PCIe: What generation is required?

512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3 - 8Gb/s up to 2 lanes

C. If is SSD PCIe: How many lanes are required?

512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3 - 8Gb/s up to 2 lanes

Now I have two questions, one already done and new one as follows respectively:

I. Can be used DDR4L instead of DDR4?

II. Can be upgraded to "1TB NVMe PCIe Gen3 - 8Gb/s up to 2 lanes"?

Thanks in advance

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1350976#Comment_1350976

Hi ManuelJordan and I'm glad to answer your question above, as the answers to your question above are as follows:

Is viable remove the 2 sticks of RAM? Or one is soldered? - In the Aspire A515-54 there is no soldered internal ram, this laptop has 2x ram slots for removable ram, bets is to populate the 2x ram slots with a kit of equally matched memory modules at max 2x 16GB DDR4-2400MT/s for the 8th Gen cpu's and DDR4-3200MT/s CL22 for the 10th Gen cpu's speed ram.
Can be used DDR4L instead of DDR4? - Use ONLY normal 1,2V DDR4 ram modules, you don't need the DDR4L which runs at a lower voltage, as DDR4 is the most common and cheapest ram available and what the Aspire A515-54 laptop is designed for
What is the MHz required? - use the Acer max speed recommended which is the DDR4-2400MT/s ram for the 8th Gen cpu's and DDR4-3200MT/s CL22 normal ram that the 10th Gen cpu is designed for.
What is the maximum RAM capacity? 32G? (2*16) - the max ram in these laptops is governed by its cpu specs and what the cpu's max memory specs are, which in the Aspire A515-54 it depends which cpu your laptop has, as some A515-54 came with either the Intel i5-8265U or the i7-88565U cpu's which have a max Intel memory design of 64GB at max DDR4-2400 or the soldered ram LPDDR3-2133 (which your A515-54 doesn't have) or the higher end cpu's of this laptop the i3-1005G1 or i5-1035G1 that have a max ram capacity of 64GB at the higher 2x 32GB DDR4-3200 CL22 or for soldered ram of LPDDR4-3733 (which your A515-54 doesn't have)
With your Aspire A515-54 M.2 SSD drive, I suggest that you upgrade to a drive like a PCIe 3 x4 lane from Western Digital model NS350 Green that comes in either 1TB or 2TB capacities, as that is the most compatible and best and most speedy drive to upgrade to, you don't need to spend more money on an M.2 SSD drive like a Gen 4 x4 lane drive as it will be a waste of money and it will not improve drive speed.

My recommendation is as follows. if you have the 8th Gen cpu in your Aspire A515-54 laptop for max ram, is to upgrade to 2x 16GB DDR4-2400MT/s speed ram (NOT DDR$L) and if you have the Aspire A515-54 fitted with the higher end 10th Gen cpu's and for max ram capacity, is to upgrade to 32GB at 2x 16GB DDR4-3200MT/s CL22 type ram for best results. Good luck and hope this helps you out further in your upgrade f this laptop.

If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

ManuelJordan

Hello Steven

Really huge thanks for the reply

Do you have one of this kind of Acer laptop?

Is viable remove the 2 sticks of RAM? Or one is soldered? - In the Aspire A515-54 there is no soldered internal ram, this laptop has 2x ram slots for removable ram

Good to know that, but without be rude, pls see this post where is indicated it has a soldered ram, and the "N18Q13" code appears in the laptop too

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/682448/ram-capacity-on-aspire-515-54-model-n18q13-details-in-comment

bets is to populate the 2x ram slots with a kit of equally matched memory modules

Agree, it to have the dual channel feature

at max 2x 16GB DDR4-2400MT/s for the 8th Gen cpu's and DDR4-3200MT/s CL22 for the 10th Gen cpu's speed ram.

Therefore because this laptop has "Intel Core i5-10210U CPU @ 1 .60Ghz" the correct option is "2 x DDR4-3200MT/s CL22" … Am I correct?

Can be used DDR4L instead of DDR4? - Use ONLY normal 1,2V DDR4 ram modules, you don't need the DDR4L which runs at a lower voltage, as DDR4 is the most common and cheapest ram available and what the Aspire A515-54 laptop is designed for

It is curious, I thought that a DDRL is better than DDR because it consumes minor voltage and even more a DDRL is cheapest

What is the MHz required? - use the Acer max speed recommended which is the DDR4-2400MT/s ram for the 8th Gen cpu's and DDR4-3200MT/s CL22 normal ram that the 10th Gen cpu is designed for.

Again because this laptop has "Intel Core i5-10210U CPU @ 1 .60Ghz" the correct option is "2 x DDR4-3200MT/s CL22" … Am I correct?

What is the maximum RAM capacity? 32G? (2*16) - the max ram in these laptops is governed by its cpu specs and what the cpu's max memory specs are, which in the Aspire A515-54 it depends which cpu your laptop has, as some A515-54 came with either the Intel i5-8265U or the i7-88565U cpu's which have a max Intel memory design of 64GB at max DDR4-2400 or the soldered ram LPDDR3-2133 (which your A515-54 doesn't have) or the higher end cpu's of this laptop the i3-1005G1 or i5-1035G1 that have a max ram capacity of 64GB at the higher 2x 32GB DDR4-3200 CL22 or for soldered ram of LPDDR4-3733 (which your A515-54 doesn't have)

Yes, I want apply either 2x8GB or 2x16GB (it according the price of each RAM)

With your Aspire A515-54 M.2 SSD drive, I suggest that you upgrade to a drive like a PCIe 3 x4 lane from Western Digital model NS350 Green that comes in either 1TB or 2TB capacities, as that is the most compatible and best and most speedy drive to upgrade to, you don't need to spend more money on an M.2 SSD drive like a Gen 4 x4 lane drive as it will be a waste of money and it will not improve drive speed.

Ok but if this laptop really requires "NVMe PCIe Gen3 - 8Gb/s up to 2 lanes" and you suggest "PCIe 3 x4 lane" … should I assume a downgrade from 4 to 2 lanes? Am I correct? Even with that it would produce more heat?. Thanks for the suggestion about WD, why green and not blue color? According with my understanding the latter is better than the former …. Therefore I am assuming the laptop supports in peace 1TB

Thanks in advance for your support

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