RAM upgrade for acer Predator Helios 16 nh.qjrsi.003 Is this compatible?

shluke
shluke Member Posts: 9

Tinkerer

edited August 2023 in Predator Laptops

I have a 16gb ram on my laptop with i9 13900hx processor and has SK-Hynix HMCG78AGBSA095N 16GB DDR5 Laptop Memory, 5600MT/s Speed, CL46 Latency, 262 Pin, Non ECC SODIMM, 1.1 V Memory Voltage | HMCG78AGBSA095N RAM. So my question is Crucial RAM 16GB DDR5 5600 MHz CL46 (16Gbit) Laptop Memory CT16G56C46S5 ECC Type = Non-ECC, Form Factor = SODIMM, Pin Count = 262-Pin, PC Speed = PC5-44800, Voltage = 1.1V, Rank And Configuration = 1Rx8. compatible with my laptop. I read some articles of different models and they mentioned the speed changes to 4800mhz. I want it to be3 2gb 5600mhz only. Is this compatible?

[Edited the thread to add issue  detail]


Answers

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,488 Trailblazer
    edited August 2023

    For your new model the Nitro PH16-71 laptop you to first update the ram to: Date: 2023/07/24 - Version: 1.12 - Title: 1. Support new panel 2. Support new touchpad 3. Support new RAM 4. Update CPU microcode - as this new bios has increased support for DDR5-5600MHz type ram, below are all the specs of the new PH16-71 laptop RAM specs and modules that are compatible with this laptop.

    All Acer suggested compatible DDR5-4800MHz or DDR5-5600MHz RAM type modules are below, I suggest that you only use the below modules that Acer lists here.

    Note: for 32GB max total ram use the below listed HYNIX 2x 16GB DDR5-5600MHz model number: HYNIX SO-DIMM DDRV 5600 16GB - HMCG78AGBSA type RAM - Acer part#: KN.16G0G.039

  • shluke
    shluke Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

  • shluke
    shluke Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    Clearly the mentioned Ram is out of stock. So you telling me there is not a single alternative

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,488 Trailblazer
    edited August 2023

    Giving this model N23Q1 number means nothing as its not specific to your laptop specs, as this number is not used as a reference to your laptop. By the Part number that you have given above, your laptop is the Predator Helios 16 PH16-71 (Part: NH.QJRSI.003) Laptop - Intel Core i9-13900HX (13th Gen)/16GB/1TB SSD/Windows 11, that part number refers to the specs that your laptop has, that is how Acer distinguishes their different specs.

    If the same fitted SK-Hynix HMCG78AGBSA095N 16GB DDR5 Laptop Memory, 5600MT/s Speed, CL46 Latency, 262 Pin, Non ECC SODIMM, 1.1 V Memory Voltage | HMCG78AGBSA095N RAM, is NOT available then wait until its available or ask Acer in your area which is the best matching and compatible ram and what ram manufacturers did the new bios Version: 1.12 that has a name at #3. Support new RAM has been added? As the best upgrade to have a 32GB total with an additional 1x 16GB DDR5-5600MHz CL46 would be to match the other exact Hynix ram as you have oem installed by Acer.

    I can't recommend any other ram except what is written in this laptops SG, it would be irresponsible of me, and I would be advising you wrongly, to tell you that the Crucial DDR5-5600MHz CL46 would work. In my experience, always get matching pair ram from the same manufacturer that Acer uses, as that works the best.

  • shluke
    shluke Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    What about the warranty void sticker? Am I allowed to do it on my own

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,488 Trailblazer

    If you have a warranty void sticker on this laptop, then don't break that sticker, as it will void your warranty. Where is the warranty void sticker, as not many laptops have them on the ram slots and modules.

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,488 Trailblazer
    edited August 2023

    If this warranty sticker is on the back cover screw, then you can't open the laptop as you will lose the warranty, as then you need to get Acer Tech Support to upgrade your ram or change your M.2 SSD drive. If this warranty sticker doesn't interfere with opening the laptop, then you can upgrade the ram and add another or upgrade the M.2 SSD drive.

  • Dwanzil
    Dwanzil Member Posts: 2 New User

    The issue is with the Laptop not RAM. Laptop BIOS are locked by the manufacturers to not allow third-party RAM etc. This thing is only done by Acer to loot customers for charging more as the RAM they mentioned generally can never be brought aftermarket. Other manufacturers like Asus never do things like that.

    Now coming to the RAM support, I have the exact same model of the laptop you have. I brought the exact model of the RAM you mentioned. I had a warranty void sticker as well. Talked to the service center guys they mentioned they don't have the RAM in their stock and don't know when it will come. I waited for 2 weeks no response (Today marks 1 month, and they still do not have the RAM). It was affecting my work as I run a lot of docker containers which takes a lot of RAM. Only 16GB 5600MHZ RAM available online was the micron one. One service center clearly denied fitting RAM, and another asked service charge to upgrade RAM. Talked to another service center and they agreed to fit the RAM as well as not charge me anything. I actually brought SAMSUNG 980 PRO 1 TB SSD as well from Amazon as it was on sale and I thought why don't get both upgraded?

    The things I got inserted was 1 x 16GB MICRON 5600MHZ RAM along with the stock SK HYNIX and another Samsung SSD.

    Now coming to the result, due to bios locking and the research I did I got to know about the cheap tricks done by manufacturers so that customers only buy stuff directly from them. If you look at the SK Hynix Price on the Acer website it's around 300 USD for a mere 50 USD RAM (See the so-called Acer TAX 🤣).

    The only issue I faced is both of my RAMs were downgraded to 5200MHZ from 5600MHZ. Apart from that my PC is running flawlessly. I checked online and various benchmarks say its basically 1-2FPS diff in games.

    You can see the picture of CPU-Z specs of both RAM (exact same config and JEDEC Timings with exact same CAS/CL TImings). People might argue that it's because of two different manufacturers. But let me highlight I have seen people fitting 2 X 16GB Kingston RAMs, and 2 X 16GB Micron RAMs they all have the same issues of RAM getting downclocked. I also have BIOS v1.12 with so-called New RAM Support.

    There is this person on youtube. He is using Transcend RAM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATtkMn7j2I8
    Note: RAM chips are only manufactured by Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Crucial is Micron's subbrand also. Other brands such as Transcend, Kingston etc. just outsource these chips from them and sell them by putting their brand name. For him, both RAMs are working fine at 5600MHZ without downclocks. I believe a possible reason is the chip used by Transcend might be of SK Hynix as per the spec sheet mentioned in prior comments. I tried a lot to see the chip manufacturer but i was unable to find the exact chips made by whom on transcend RAM.