Upgrade Your Laptop? Boost Performance by Focusing on These 3 Key Components

If you're anything like me, a laptop likely serves as your primary (if not sole) computing device. Its portability is unparalleled and allows us to take it everywhere. However, just like everything else, time eventually takes its toll, and laptops are particularly vulnerable to this wear and tear.

If your laptop feels outdated and you want to breathe new life into it to extend its usability for a few more years, think about upgrading some components. Despite not being as modular as a Framework laptop, most laptops still offer upgradable options. some of its components.

However, which components of the laptop are they referring to? worth Upgrading? And which ones should you skip? Continue reading as I break it all down, so you (likely) won’t need to purchase a new laptop right away.

Related: The top laptops based on your requirements

Which components in laptops aren't upgradable?

Upgrading laptops can be tricky business. With so many components packed into such tight spaces, laptops are notably more restrictive compared to desktops — and those tight confines force manufacturers to make different design decisions. Practically, that often means meant-to-be-permanent builds with minimal DIY upgrade options.

To put it differently, some components of laptops cannot be upgraded at all. However, a rapid online search could lead you astray. I've even witnessed Lenovo recommend That "virtually any part within your laptop can be upgraded if needed," including the CPU and GPU.

The unfortunate reality is that CPUs and GPUs are almost never Upgrading in laptops can be challenging since they're often attached directly to the motherboard. In the case of older models, replacing displays is nearly unfeasible due to their inaccessible location and the complexity involved. Even when using an embedded DisplayPort, this upgrade might still be more complicated compared to others.

In the end, this implies that you have limited choices for accelerating your laptop and enhancing the general user experience. This is frustrating when it begins to slow down, fails to meet the rising requirements of contemporary applications, and starts feeling obsolete and out-of-date.

Let's delve into the most frequently upgraded components of laptops and determine which ones to enhance based on the problems you're encountering.

Related: Frequent errors that shorten your laptop's life span

Is it worthwhile to upgrade your laptop's RAM?

A lot of laptops still offer upgradable RAM, although this feature is gradually becoming more rare. Should your laptop use LPDDR memory, it's almost certain that this will be permanently attached to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. However, if you do not spot those letters "LP," then you might have the opportunity for an upgrade.

However, it can be challenging to determine what type of RAM you possess since it isn't always clearly stated. You could consult your laptop’s manufacturer for clarification. Alternatively, if you're feeling bold, you might consider opening the underside panel of your laptop to examine it firsthand.

Artiom Vallat / Unsplash

Upgradable laptop memory resembles the green circuit board shown in the image above. Additionally, within this photograph, there’s an empty memory slot located to the left of the installed memory—a positive sign for individuals considering upgrades, since they have the option to add another memory module easily.

Related: How to determine the type of RAM installed

Upgrading the RAM is among the most effective enhancements you can perform on a laptop. Think of RAM as like your desk and SSD storage as like a file cabinet. The bigger your desk, the more space you have for open files; when you run out of desk space, additional files are kept in the file cabinet. If your desk space is too small, you end up having to move files back and forth from the cabinet to your desk.

When your laptop lacks sufficient RAM, this issue arises. Once your RAM capacity maxes out, extra information starts overflowing into considerably slower storage devices. Transferring data between these slower drives and the RAM becomes time-consuming. Insufficient RAM leads to a noticeable decrease in performance; tasks become lethargic and unresponsive. Moreover, applications left running idly could freeze upon your return because of delays in pulling their data back into the RAM.

Certain applications might demand more Random Access Memory (RAM) than what is available on your device, leading them to crash upon launching. Think of attempting to assemble a large jigsaw puzzle on a small desk; there isn’t sufficient room for everything. In such scenarios, increasing your RAM could resolve the issue.

Keep in mind that despite having upgradable memory, not all RAM modules will work in your laptop. It’s essential to use a compatible RAM type, and you might need to remove your present memory module since some laptops feature only one RAM slot. See our complete handbook for enhancing your laptop’s RAM .

Related: What amount of RAM should you have in a laptop?

Is it worthwhile to upgrade a laptop's SSD?

Laptop storage varies widely in form and capacity. Older models might still feature traditional spinning hard disk drives (HDDs). However, newer laptops predominantly use quicker solid-state drives (SSDs), often significantly smaller than HDDs.

Unfortunately, the increasing trend of making things smaller has led to limited opportunities for upgrades. However, this isn’t always the case.

Gordon Mah Ung / IDG

Upgrading from an HDD to an SSD is among the most valuable improvements you can perform if your laptop still uses an HDD. Should you possess a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive, consider swapping it for a 2.5-inch SATA solid-state drive. Such an upgrade significantly enhances your computer’s performance through quicker startup sequences, expedited application loading, and swifter file transfers. Additionally, when the random access memory has to exchange information between various components, this enhanced storage solution aids in boosting overall efficiency.

Related: How to duplicate an HDD onto an SSD at no cost

If your laptop already includes an SSD, deciding whether to upgrade further ultimately depends on your individual preferences and requirements. If you primarily engage in gaming or perform creative tasks, the increased speed provided by a quicker storage device can make a notable difference, particularly when upgrading from SATA to NVMe. However, if your main objective is simply speeding up file transfers, an SSD might not address the biggest limiting factor; instead, consider the capabilities of your current system’s ports. For instance, both Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 connections do not offer enough bandwidth to keep pace with numerous PCIe 4.0 SSDs.

If your laptop already has an SSD and you're not handling tasks that demand high bandwidth, there are even fewer incentives for upgrading. Primarily, the key reason to consider an upgrade would be boosting storage space. Many laptops often ship with only 128GB or 256GB of storage, so increasing this to 512GB, 1TB, or higher could seem appealing—especially since SSDs tend to perform less efficiently as they fill up.

If you already have an SSD installed in your laptop and there's an available storage slot, it might be beneficial to install a secondary drive. Keep in mind though that this added hardware will use some of your laptop’s power, which could slightly reduce the overall battery life.

When considering additional storage options, think about what you'll be using the space for as well. If your primary needs involve storing games or applications, it would make more sense to opt for internal storage. However, when you're archiving documents, photographs, and videos, consider external Storage devices such as flash drives and portable solid-state drives (SSDs).

If you choose to proceed with this and require assistance, consider exploring our resources. complete manual for installing or swapping out an SSD in your notebook .

Related: What amount of SSD storage does it have? really need?

Is it worthwhile to upgrade the network card?

Were you aware that you can enhance your laptop’s networking capabilities by upgrading its network card? Many people aren’t familiar with this component, which facilitates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connections. Interestingly, it remains one of the least recognized upgradable parts of a laptop.

Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

If your old laptop has an obsolete network adapter limited to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or perhaps even earlier standards such as Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), consider upgrading to one compatible with Wi-Fi 6 or 6E (802.11ax). This upgrade would offer enhanced speeds and better reliability.

If you're having issues with your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity and nothing seems to resolve these troubles through standard troubleshooting methods, then perhaps it’s time to consider replacing the device.

Upgrading a network card can be challenging because you must verify compatibility. Ensure your laptop includes the appropriate slot and antennas for the new network card, and confirm that your operating system supports the latest technology—older systems might not recognize newer Wi-Fi standards.