How to Upgrade Your HP Pavilion for Better Performance

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If you’re looking to improve your HP Pavilion Notebook, here’s a simple guide to help you upgrade your memory and storage, with some additional tips to enhance your laptop’s performance.

First, you’ll want to check the current specifications of your notebook to see what upgrades are possible. The manual for your specific model can be very helpful. You can find the “HP Pavilion Notebook PC Maintenance and Service Guide” online here. Focus on Chapter 1, which explains how to upgrade the memory.

Since your notebook has an Intel Core i5-6300HQ processor, it probably supports more than 16GB of RAM—specifically, it might support 2 x 16GB modules. However, keep in mind that memory prices are high right now, so it might not be the best time to buy large upgrades. To confirm whether your system can handle 2 x 16GB modules, you can run this command in Windows PowerShell (make sure to run as administrator):

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PhysicalMemoryArray | Select-Object MaxCapacityEx, MemoryDevices

This will tell you the maximum supported memory.

If your laptop has a traditional 2.5-inch hard drive, you’re in luck. The manual mentions that you can replace it with a faster M.2 NVMe SSD or swap it out for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, which can significantly speed up your system.

Keep in mind, the processor and graphics card are part of the motherboard, so they can’t be upgraded. But there’s one part you might be able to improve: the Wi-Fi adapter. The manual states your notebook uses an Intel Dual Band Wi-Fi 7265 card, which you can upgrade to a newer model like the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200. This upgrade can provide faster Wi-Fi speeds and better connectivity, especially with Bluetooth 5.0 support.

Remember, before making any upgrades, double-check your model’s manual to ensure compatibility. Upgrading your RAM, storage, and Wi-Fi card can make your notebook run smoother and faster without the need to replace the entire device.