Aspire A315-51-35LM Notebook upgradeable, I want to upgrade both RAM &Processor, any recommendation

Qlueinne
Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

Tinkerer
in Aspire Laptops
  • Model Name: A315-51|
  • Part Number: NX.GNPSP.003
  • Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-6006U CPU @ 2.00GHz 1.99 GHz
  • Windows 10 64 bit
  • 1 TB HARDDRIVE CAPACITY

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Answers

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,077 Trailblazer
    edited April 2022
    Qlueinne said:
    • Model Name: A315-51|
    • Part Number: NX.GNPSP.003
    • Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-6006U CPU @ 2.00GHz 1.99 GHz
    • Windows 10 64 bit
    • 1 TB HARDDRIVE CAPACITY

    The Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-6006U CPU is a 6th Gen CPU (that is not compatible with Win-11) that can't be upgraded as its a BGA microprocessor that is soldered onto the motherboard, as such, upgrading or replacing this CPU to lets say the top Core i7-6660U (which will give you minimal buck to performance improvement) is extremely difficult and not cost affective. The best solution for you is to install and run the "Crucial System Scanner" to find out the max and most compatible memory for this i3-6006U CPU that Crucial suggests. Btw, the Core i3-6006U's Intel quoted specs are as follows; 32GB max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) which is with either be the DDR4-2133 or LPDDR3-1866 and/or DDR3L-1600 types memory suitable for your laptop, so do the scan as that will tell you all this info.

    This scan will also give you the most suitable and best SSD's drives for your Aspire A315-51. Also and remember that an SSD drive and max memory will improve your laptops performance to what the i3-6006U CPU's best and max performance is and it will improve your laptops performance by at least 100%. Also update the bios to the last version 1.14 titled "Update Intel CPU Microcode KBL-U 009A, SKL-U 00C6 and also you need to make sure that the Windows 10 64 bit OS is up to date and all Intel drivers are also up to date by installing the "Intel® Driver & Support Assistant" as the combination of all this will work to improve your laptops performance but, its up to you if you want to spend the dollars on these upgrades instead of buying a brand new and modern laptop that will be of a higher spec that will also serve you much better for the future and be able to install Win-11 for the future. Good luck and hope this helps you out.


  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    I can see that your laptop is experiencing the classic problem of the mechanical HDD bottleneck. It is running at close to 100%, that is where the laptop is chocked. Replacing the original 1 TB mechanical HDD with a 2.5" SATA3 SSD with the capacity( no less than 1 TB recommended) that you want is a good idea, as 2.5" SATA3 SSD is like three times faster than traditional spinning HDD. You may want to use and external USB 3.0 SSD/HDD adpter putting the new SSD in the adapter and clone from the 1 TB HDD to the new SSD. Replace the old drive with the new SSD and bootup from the SSD thereafter. The old drive can be retained in the adapter and reformatted as data drive only later on. This new SSD most likely can be applied to you future new PC (desktop or laptop) even if you decide to abandon this A315-51.


    The 4 GB RAM is still basically O.K. with 0.7 GB reserve left. I'll suggest getting another 4 GB RAM matching the original 4GB RAM of DDR4 SO-DIMM with 2,133 MHZ for a total of 8 GB and that will enable the dual channel performance of the memory. That cost can be less than USD $20, cheap enough.

    As @StevenGen mentioned, it is not cost effective to replace the CPU, and your laptop is not qualified for WIn 11 upgrade, so you may keep the laptop until a few years after 2025 when even other bowsers give up supporting Win 10 any more. However, if you decide to install Linux to the laptop, you can try keeping the laptop until the hardware failure in the future.

    With the SSD and RAM upgrade, you should be happy with the performance with minimal cost.
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    Go to WWW.userbenchmark.com and run a performance test there and see what kind of SSD you can use for your laptop for upgrade.
     
    Some A315-51-35LM can use M.2 NVMe SSD, as there may be an open M.2 slot available. M.2 NVMe SSD is another few times faster than the 2.5" SATA3 SSD ( 550 MB/s read).

    Since your laptop is using i3-6006u CPU, I think M.2 NVMe SSD there will be running at x2 speed (1,700 MB/s read) instead of the x4 (3,400 MB/s read) full speed.

    Go for a M.2 NVMe SSD if you can, and you don't need an external adapter for cloning, just get a cloning software will do it.
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    Go to WWW.userbenchmark.com and run a performance test there and see what kind of SSD you can use for your laptop for upgrade.
     
    Some A315-51-35LM can use M.2 NVMe SSD, as there may be an open M.2 slot available. M.2 NVMe SSD is another few times faster than the 2.5" SATA3 SSD ( 550 MB/s read).

    Since your laptop is using i3-6006u CPU, I think M.2 NVMe SSD there will be running at x2 speed (1,700 MB/s read) instead of the x4 (3,400 MB/s read) full speed.

    Go for a M.2 NVMe SSD if you can, and you don't need an external adapter for cloning, just get a cloning software will do it.
    Hello is this the M.2 NVMe SSD?
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    I can see that your laptop is experiencing the classic problem of the mechanical HDD bottleneck. It is running at close to 100%, that is where the laptop is chocked. Replacing the original 1 TB mechanical HDD with a 2.5" SATA3 SSD with the capacity( no less than 1 TB recommended) that you want is a good idea, as 2.5" SATA3 SSD is like three times faster than traditional spinning HDD. You may want to use and external USB 3.0 SSD/HDD adpter putting the new SSD in the adapter and clone from the 1 TB HDD to the new SSD. Replace the old drive with the new SSD and bootup from the SSD thereafter. The old drive can be retained in the adapter and reformatted as data drive only later on. This new SSD most likely can be applied to you future new PC (desktop or laptop) even if you decide to abandon this A315-51.


    The 4 GB RAM is still basically O.K. with 0.7 GB reserve left. I'll suggest getting another 4 GB RAM matching the original 4GB RAM of DDR4 SO-DIMM with 2,133 MHZ for a total of 8 GB and that will enable the dual channel performance of the memory. That cost can be less than USD $20, cheap enough.

    As @StevenGen mentioned, it is not cost effective to replace the CPU, and your laptop is not qualified for WIn 11 upgrade, so you may keep the laptop until a few years after 2025 when even other bowsers give up supporting Win 10 any more. However, if you decide to install Linux to the laptop, you can try keeping the laptop until the hardware failure in the future.

    With the SSD and RAM upgrade, you should be happy with the performance with minimal cost.
    Can I ask for opinion if I should get the 8GB RAM or not worth it? 
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    Answer ✓
    @Qlueinne

    Yes, as you can see from the label, that is M.2 NVMe SSD with 2280 form factor (22 x 80 mm) looks like half sized memory stick, to be applied to the M.2 slot or the x16 slot with an adapter. BTW, have you checked userbenchmark.com to see if your laptop can use M.2 NVMe SSD? 

    In my opinion, getting 4 GB RAM to your laptop is good enough, since you have no complaints about not enough memory.
    Adding 4 GB RAM will double the capacity and provide optimal performance. Your laptop will probably good for a few years only.  I can add 16 GB RAM to my laptop, but I chose to add only 4 GB, because I can foresee usage of less than 8 GB through the life of it. I'll not use it for heavy gaming and heavy video editing. It is up to you.

     The picture shows a 2,666 MHz RAM. What you need is something DDR4 SO-DIMM with the speed 2,133 MHz.
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    Yes, as you can see from the label, that is M.2 NVMe SSD with 2280 form factor (22 x 80 mm) looks like half sized memory stick, to be applied to the M.2 slot or the x16 slot with an adapter. BTW, have you checked userbenchmark.com to see if your laptop can use M.2 NVMe SSD? 

    In my opinion, getting 4 GB RAM to your laptop is good enough, since you have no complaints about not enough memory.
    Adding 4 GB RAM will double the capacity and provide optimal performance. Your laptop will probably good for a few years only.  I can add 16 GB RAM to my laptop, but I chose to add only 4 GB, because I can foresee usage of less than 8 GB through the life of it. I'll not use it for heavy gaming and heavy video editing. It is up to you.

     The picture shows a 2,666 MHz RAM. What you need is something DDR4 SO-DIMM with the speed 2,133 MHz.
    Thank you so much appreciate your help mate.
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    One thing I forgot to mention.
    Since you have a 1 TB HDD, I'll suggest getting a M.2 NVMe SSD of no less than one TB.

    I have seen people complained that cloning software could not successfully clone the OS. The reason was probably because there were trying to clone from a higher capacity drive to a lower capacity drive. Don't know cloning software now have that problem sorted out.

    To do cloning from high capacity to low capacity drive, I'll recommend using Windows' create system image method, but that will need another external HDD/SSD or drive placed in an external adapter as the media to store the system image.

  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    One thing I forgot to mention.
    Since you have a 1 TB HDD, I'll suggest getting a M.2 NVMe SSD of no less than one TB.

    I have seen people complained that cloning software could not successfully clone the OS. The reason was probably because there were trying to clone from a higher capacity drive to a lower capacity drive. Don't know cloning software now have that problem sorted out.

    To do cloning from high capacity to low capacity drive, I'll recommend using Windows' create system image method, but that will need another external HDD/SSD or drive placed in an external adapter as the media to store the system image.

    Bro where can I see from the  userbenchmark.com to see if my laptop can use M.2 NVMe SSD? 
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    At the top of the page you can see the "Test". Click Test to download and run it. You can see it will do a lot of graphics tests. At the end of the tests, you can click "Close".

    Scroll down the report, it will show you info of other parts such as memory and SSD available for your model's upgrade. If M.2 NVMe SSD is on the list, then your PC can use it.

    One thing for sure is to open up the laptop and take a look inside. If a M.2 slot is there ( should be open), pay attention to the narrower side of notch, count if it is 4-pin or 5-pin there. Or take a picture and post it here.

    Adding M.2 NVMe SSD or replacing with a 2.5" SATA3 SSD, you have to open the back of the laptop anyway.
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    At the top of the page you can see the "Test". Click Test to download and run it. You can see it will do a lot of graphics tests. At the end of the tests, you can click "Close".

    Scroll down the report, it will show you info of other parts such as memory and SSD available for your model's upgrade. If M.2 NVMe SSD is on the list, then your PC can use it.

    One thing for sure is to open up the laptop and take a look inside. If a M.2 slot is there ( should be open), pay attention to the narrower side of notch, count if it is 4-pin or 5-pin there. Or take a picture and post it here.

    Adding M.2 NVMe SSD or replacing with a 2.5" SATA3 SSD, you have to open the back of the laptop anyway.
    Will send it later thank you so much :)
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    At the top of the page you can see the "Test". Click Test to download and run it. You can see it will do a lot of graphics tests. At the end of the tests, you can click "Close".

    Scroll down the report, it will show you info of other parts such as memory and SSD available for your model's upgrade. If M.2 NVMe SSD is on the list, then your PC can use it.

    One thing for sure is to open up the laptop and take a look inside. If a M.2 slot is there ( should be open), pay attention to the narrower side of notch, count if it is 4-pin or 5-pin there. Or take a picture and post it here.

    Adding M.2 NVMe SSD or replacing with a 2.5" SATA3 SSD, you have to open the back of the laptop anyway.
    Is this the right one?
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    This is only the slot for the RAM.

    To access the M.2 slot or replacing the HDD with 2.5" SATA3 HDD, you may need to remove the whole bottom of the laptop.

    Maybe you can come up with a photo for the top part of the left picture (seems to be something removable there) or other removable slots at the back, see if M.2 NVMe SSD can be easily accessible, but I doubt it.

    My old Dell laptop allows replacing HDD and RAM with removable slots not needing to take out the whole bottom part of the laptop.
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    This is only the slot for the RAM.

    To access the M.2 slot or replacing the HDD with 2.5" SATA3 HDD, you may need to remove the whole bottom of the laptop.

    Maybe you can come up with a photo for the top part of the left picture (seems to be something removable there) or other removable slots at the back, see if M.2 NVMe SSD can be easily accessible, but I doubt it.

    My old Dell laptop allows replacing HDD and RAM with removable slots not needing to take out the whole bottom part of the laptop.
    Hello just open the whole thing is the one?
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    Yes, that is the "M" key M.2 slot. From the close up picture, I can see it has 4-pin at the narrower side, so it can use x2 (1,700 MB/s) NVMe SSD as anticipated originally. The perfect match is to get x2 drive such as WD SN 520. However, it is not easy to find x2 drives in retail market nowadays, so people tend to overpay a little and get x4 drives instead. I can see that a M2x3 screw is already installed at the standoff, that's good. Most of the time, a M.2 NVMe SSD will not come with the M2x3 screw, and users have to search for it and order one in seaparate order, making such a simple installation a not so happy experience.

    Don't forget to get a heat sink to lower the temperature to prevent thermal throttling while doing massive file copying and moving. Decent passive heat sinks can be acquired between USD $5-$20.

    Note: Before installing the NVMe SSD, disconnect the battery first. After the drive connected, re-connect the battery connector.

    Once the NVMe SSD formatted using Windows' Disk Management, you can use a cloning software to clone directly from the 1 TB HDD souce to the new SSD target without an adapter. Remove the old HDD temporarily after the cloning to force the laptop to boot to the NVMe SSD. The old HDD can be put back and formatted as a data only drive after a few reboots.
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    Yes, that is the "M" key M.2 slot. From the close up picture, I can see it has 4-pin at the narrower side, so it can use x2 (1,700 MB/s) NVMe SSD as anticipated originally. The perfect match is to get x2 drive such as WD SN 520. However, it is not easy to find x2 drives in retail market nowadays, so people tend to overpay a little and get x4 drives instead. I can see that a M2x3 screw is already installed at the standoff, that's good. Most of the time, a M.2 NVMe SSD will not come with the M2x3 screw, and users have to search for it and order one in seaparate order, making such a simple installation a not so happy experience.

    Don't forget to get a heat sink to lower the temperature to prevent thermal throttling while doing massive file copying and moving. Decent passive heat sinks can be acquired between USD $5-$20.

    Note: Before installing the NVMe SSD, disconnect the battery first. After the drive connected, re-connect the battery connector.

    Once the NVMe SSD formatted using Windows' Disk Management, you can use a cloning software to clone directly from the 1 TB HDD souce to the new SSD target without an adapter. Remove the old HDD temporarily after the cloning to force the laptop to boot to the NVMe SSD. The old HDD can be put back and formatted as a data only drive after a few reboots.
    Did I buy the wrong one mate for the M2 NVMe SSD (2nd picture)

    Do you have any specific picture for the passive heat sinks? Where should I install it? Is it like this 1st picture? Is there any measurement that I will make?

    All are noted regarding on the tips thank you so much
  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @Qlueinne

    I cannot tell the materials from the top picture, is that copper? Or those are thermal pads? Theoretically you can use that for heat sink puropse, but will involve some works.

    You can refer to the thread below for the heat sinks ( note: for 2280 form factor), not going to repeat here.

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/663184/1tb-ssd-upgrade-for-an-aspire-tc-391-ur11

    The member who started the thread also wanted to upgrade to NVMe SSD. Installation instruction usually come with the heat sink, or you can just refer to the description page when ordering.
  • Qlueinne
    Qlueinne Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    edited April 2022
    ttttt said:
    @Qlueinne

    I cannot tell the materials from the top picture, is that copper? Or those are thermal pads? Theoretically you can use that for heat sink puropse, but will involve some works.

    You can refer to the thread below for the heat sinks ( note: for 2280 form factor), not going to repeat here.

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/663184/1tb-ssd-upgrade-for-an-aspire-tc-391-ur11

    The member who started the thread also wanted to upgrade to NVMe SSD. Installation instruction usually come with the heat sink, or you can just refer to the description page when ordering.
    Yes copper thermal pads but I just find now an M.2 SSD heatsink is this much better it cost around $ 3-4.

  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    Answer ✓
    @Qlueinne

    Yes, this is a thin heat sink, probably aluminum, good for laptops. Does it use a metallic clip or rubber band to hold the SSD?

    With my Acer laptop, I use a copper heat sink like this:

    https://www.amazon.com/Laptop-Heatsink-Thermal-Pads，Heat-Copper/dp/B07YC1HTFR/ref=sr_1_3?crid=KDN9VQ6K5A6S&keywords=copper+m.2+nvme+ssd+heatsink&qid=1649319911&s=electronics&sprefix=copper+m.2+nvme+ssd+heat+sinks,electronics,126&sr=1-3

    The bad thing about this kind of thin heat sink is silicone or rubber bands are being used to hold the heat sink and M.2 SSD together. Heat sink for desktops usually has its own casing, but too thick to fit the interior of a laptop.
    Silicone and rubber bands won't last long, some people complained the silicone/rubber bands broke in just a few months. I ended up using polyimide tape like this, because of its heat resistance property:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M91646D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


  • Jirps333
    Jirps333 Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/663713/aspire-a315-51-35lm-notebook-upgradeable-i-want-to-upgrade-both-ram-processor-any-recommendation

    Hi, i have the same unit as what you have... did you fully upgraded your laptop? hows the performance now? :)

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