Laptop RAM (also known as SO-DIMM) is mainly used in laptops and mini PCs. Having higher capacity or faster RAM in your system will enable the system to multitask better, and process more data at once. Unlike desktop RAM, there are fewer factors to consider when selecting laptop RAM, and it will generally be more compatible across the board.
Compatibility with your device – The most important thing to consider with laptop RAM is whether your device is upgradable, as well as whether it will be compatible. Laptops will vary on whether they are or are not upgradable, and even if a laptop is upgradable, they will sometimes have a maximum capacity for RAM. As such, always ensure before upgrading that your devices RAM is upgradable.
Capacity – The higher the capacity of laptop RAM, the more data can be stored and used at once. As such, a higher capacity will increase a system’s ability to multi-task and process large amounts of data.
Speeds – Higher speed laptop RAM allows your system to move data around faster, thus increasing how many tasks and how much data can be accessed by the PCs processor. In a laptop however, if it is being installed alongside another stick of laptop RAM, they will both default to the lowest speed between the 2. This is why it’s important to consider what laptop RAM is already installed before selecting an additional stick/kit.
Generation – As with desktop RAM, laptop RAM is currently available in 2 generations: DDR4 and DDR5, and they are not backwards or forwards compatible. It’s important to ensure that DDR4 RAM is paired with a DDR4 laptop/mini PC and vice versa.
