HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop: It’s a major decision to choose whether to replace your current laptop or simply enhance it. For the majority of us, a laptop is a necessary tool for both work and recreation, thus factors like speed and memory are very important.
While common wisdom may lean toward the “buy a new one” camp, changing a few components or making a few adjustments might save the DIYer a significant amount of money or buy you a few extra months as you wait for the optimal moment to purchase a new laptop.
What you should know before starting to upgrade your laptop, whether you’re hoping for better graphics, more RAM, or faster processing power:
Your warranty may be void if you upgrade.
The impatient should avoid this process.
Not all parts can be replaced.
Certain upgrades might harm your laptop.
Can a laptop processor be upgraded?
Let’s begin with the most important query. We’re sorry to break the terrible news to you, but you typically can’t upgrade your laptop processor. There are a few laptops available with swappable processors, but they are pricey and hard to locate.
The majority of CPUs are directly soldered to the motherboard, which makes it difficult for the average user to replace the CPU. If the processor is swappable, you must ensure that the new CPU can communicate with the motherboard after installation and that it will fit in the same socket.
Which CPUs are compatible with your current network can be found on your HP desktop computer’s product specification page. Despite not addressing the laptop issue, the short version is that processor power is essentially locked in…permanently.
Is your laptop operating slowly?
It could be a symptom of typical wear and tear if your laptop is operating more slowly than it once did. To get your computer operating more swiftly and more like it did when you first took it out of the box, there are a few things you can do.
Start by determining how much available space there is. For instance, if the hard drive on your laptop is running out of space, accessing programs may be difficult.
Alternatively, a lack of RAM, which supports your applications, may be to blame. Even though adding more RAM won’t completely address your performance issues, it can relieve some of the burden on your CPU and speed up processing.
Start by increasing the RAM in your laptop.
The majority of laptops allow users to add a memory stick to a slot within the device to increase RAM or memory. In most cases, you must buy fresh memory for your computer from a certified vendor or the PC maker directly. In some circumstances, unofficial producers of memory sticks create models that are compatible with a range of notebooks.
Most of our laptops at HP® are made to be opened with a Phillips screwdriver by the user, who can then relatively easily add new or upgraded computer memory. Users cannot update memory because other machines have soldered the device shut.
Although we’ve created a tutorial for installing RAM in an HP laptop, we strongly suggest checking twice or even three times before making a decision.
Think about updating the hard drive on your laptop.
Most manufacturers let you swap out your current hard drive for one with extra storage. Depending on how much space you’ll need, you may wind up paying a certain amount for this.
A 1TB traditional hard drive can be purchased for as little as $50 or $100, whereas a 480GB SSD can quickly approach $400 or $500. You can typically locate a compartment where the hard disk is located in laptops that make it simple to replace the drive.
Since you may start using an external hard drive right away by plugging it into the USB port, it appeals to many people as a solution. Additionally, you can continue using it even after you buy a new laptop.
Upgrade to a newer operating system
Most of the time, you can upgrade your operating system without purchasing a brand-new laptop. Yes, more recent laptops come with newer operating systems, but you can typically install the latest system yourself with little to no hassle.
For instance, you would need to delete Windows 8 from your hard drive and download Windows 10 if your laptop is still using Windows 8 and you wish to upgrade. You should confirm the download if you have the space. You might not have enough RAM in some circumstances to support the update.
It should be simple to replace it if you need more RAM. However, you might want to think again if you’re downloading the new OS in the hopes of having a quicker processing speed.
Invest in a new graphics card.
Many people are interested in learning how to improve their laptop’s graphics card (GPU), usually for gaming purposes. Your GPU is typically soldered onto the motherboard, similar to how your CPU is, making it challenging to change.
Surprisingly, you may increase your graphics capability by purchasing an external device that plugs into your USB port. You’ll receive better graphics output, allowing you to supplement your laptop’s screen with a second monitor.
To add a CD/DVD drive, go here.
Since streaming has made CDs less popular than they once were, most contemporary laptops don’t have a built-in disc drive.
Fortunately, you may get an external optical drive if you occasionally want to view a DVD or play a favorite game from a few years ago. You only need to put the drive into a USB port to get started, making it one of the simpler modifications you can do.
enhancing your laptop for gaming
Most of the time, upgrading your laptop’s graphics card won’t give you a better gaming experience. As we just established, the majority of contemporary laptops have integrated graphics cards that are soldered directly onto the motherboard, allowing for a little customization.
SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR GAMING EXPERIENCE INCLUDE:
Clean your laptop physically. Dust and debris can interfere with operation by obstructing airflow, which leads to overheating.
Although Windows defragments your files automatically, you may wish to manually check the defrag state as well.
Ensure that DirectX is current. By entering “dxdiag” into the menu, you can find out what version you’re using. Run a Windows update after that to maybe increase the performance of your gaming-related gear.
Your graphics card can be overclocked using tools that will allow you to increase the voltage and clock frequency of your GPU. The program has a hardware monitor so that you can keep an eye on system stability. Here, you need to be cautious. Overclocking raises the possibility that your computer will shut down due to overheating, which, let’s face it, doesn’t exactly make for the most delightful gaming experience. Exercise caution because it can jeopardize your manufacturer’s warranty.
Summary
Although upgrading your laptop isn’t necessarily the simplest method to improve your computing experience, as we’ve shown here, most of these suggestions are simple to put into practice on your own.
A desktop can be your best option if you’re searching for a computer that can be modified, particularly for gaming. However, there are easy ways to upgrade your laptop if you just need extra RAM or storage capacity for your information.
