5 Things to Know When Adding RAM to a Laptop

Any DDR4 8GB stick will work Mixing different speeds or timings may cause minor performance loss or rare crashes, but the system will still boot and run.

Dual-channel mode prefers matching sticks Your laptop runs best with two identical sticks, but mismatched RAM will still work—it just runs both at the slower stick’s specs.

Match voltage and CAS latency for zero headaches Standard DDR4 runs at 1.2V. Matching CAS latency avoids potential instability, but most users won’t notice the difference.

Buy a laptop SODIMM, not a desktop DIMM The physical size is different. A desktop stick will not fit in a laptop slot.

Avoid the cheapest no-name RAM Stick with reputable brands. Cheap RAM from unknown sellers is more likely to cause problems.