Need advice on compatibility and setting up a new laptop

TheMystic · Aug 20, 2023

Good day friends!

I bought a new laptop (Acer Nitro 5 with AMD Ryzen 7735 HS) that comes with 16 GB DDR5 RAM (upgradeable to 32 GB) and a 512 GB (Gen 4) internal storage (there are additional slots for both NVME and SATA disk). I want to upgrade both these specs, so I ordered the following:

1. RAM: Crucial RAM 16GB DDR5 5600 MHz CL46 (16Gbit) Laptop Memory CT16G56C46S5
2. Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 1TB PCIe 4.0 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD, up to 6600MB/s - CT1000P5PSSD8

My queries are:

1. Are BOTH of these compatible with my laptop?

2. The stock RAM clocks at 4800 MHz. The one I bought can downclock to 4800 MHz or 5200 MHz. Does it matter in which RAM slot I put the new one in?

3. I would like to set up dual boot, with each internal disk having its own OS (I will install Windows 11 only on both). Is this possible or does the OS need to be mandatorily installed only in the 1st SSD slot?

Here is a disassembly video:

https://laptopmedia.com/highlights/how-to-open-acer-nitro-5-an515-47-disassembly-and-upgrade-options/

Thank you.

antspants · Aug 20, 2023

I would of checked if a. the new ram was compatible with your laptop and b. If the new ram is compatible with the current stock ram, before you ordered them?
The storage should be fine.

TheMystic · Aug 20, 2023

antspants said:
I would of checked if a. the new ram was compatible with your laptop and b. If the new ram is compatible with the current stock ram, before you ordered them?
The storage should be fine.

I still have time to cancel my order if anything is incompatible. There isn't too much info available on the internet for this particular model, so I thought I would ask here before it is too late.

Flashorn · Aug 20, 2023

TheMystic said:
I still have time to cancel my order if anything is incompatible. There isn't too much info available on the internet for this particular model, so I thought I would ask here before it is too late

Firstly, have you tried the Acer Community?
Second, have you taken the back off to see
what the make of both these components are?
It shouldn't be difficult to add or change anything
IF you have the right components.

It probably be best to have both RAM modules from
the same manufacturer and also you can check with
the community if you can switch specs for them. I haven't
personally worked on Acers but, on Asus and MSI this is
very much preferable.

Also, make sure that the size of (1 or 2 or 4TBs) the nvmes are supported
by the notebook.

A little help from iFxit. Just the small case.

iFixit

iFixit DIY repair tools and parts to fix electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and more!

www.amazon.com

Forgot to include the Acer Community . Sorry

Nitro Gaming

Find discussions about our Aspire gaming laptop and desktop series like the AN515-51, GX-281 or the NP515-51.

community.acer.com

TheMystic · Aug 20, 2023

Thank you for the links.

Flashorn said:
Firstly, have you tried the Acer Community?

Good idea. I will sign up there and ask the same question there too.

Flashorn said:
Second, have you taken the back off to see
what the make of both these components are?

Not yet. I don't want to keep opening the laptop. Once the parts arrive, I would try and make it a one-time thing.

Flashorn said:
t probably be best to have both RAM modules from
the same manufacturer and also you can check with
the community if you can switch specs for them.

From what I have read, the RAMs must be of the same clock speed (e.g. 4800 MHz) and same generation (e.g. DDR5). I ordered the CL-46 RAM because it is capable of downclocking to 4800 MHz (or 5200 MHz) and is recommended by Crucial for Ryzen 7000 series processors. I read somewhere that it is better to put the better RAM in the 'Master' slot if the capacities are different (such as one RAM being 8 GB and the other 16 GB), but this is probably not applicable in my case here (since both are 16 GB).

Flashorn said:
Also, make sure that the size of (1 or 2 or 4TBs) the nvmes are supported
by the notebook.

I think the motherboard supports a total of 2 TB, although I can't find where I got this info from. But since there are 3 slots inside, support for 2 TB in total is very highly probable.

Flashorn · Aug 20, 2023

TheMystic said:
Thank you for the links.

Good idea. I will sign up there and ask the same question there too.

Not yet. I don't want to keep opening the laptop. Once the parts arrive, I would try and make it a one-time thing.

From what I have read, the RAMs must be of the same clock speed (e.g. 4800 MHz) and same generation (e.g. DDR5). I ordered the CL-46 RAM because it is capable of downclocking to 4800 MHz (or 5200 MHz) and is recommended by Crucial for Ryzen 7000 series processors. I read somewhere that it is better to put the better RAM in the 'Master' slot if the capacities are different (such as one RAM being 8 GB and the other 16 GB), but this is probably not applicable in my case here (since both are 16 GB).

I think the motherboard supports a total of 2 TB, although I can't find where I got this info from. But since there are 3 slots inside, support for 2 TB in total is very highly probable.

Like I said, I have never worked on a Acer before but, from what I have learned is that, both RAM modules should be of the same type and manufacturer. That's where the Acer Community comes in. They should be able to tell you what you need exactly to make this work.
As for the SSDs, ask if the motherboard will accommodate 1 or 2TBs PER SLOT and not in total. I believe I saw a third connection for a SATA drive in the left hand corner of the screens you provided. If so, you might be able to add another storage drive.

Just be aware that, by adding more components to the inside of the notebook, there will be more heat generated by the new SSDs.
They do tend to get hot. Add those heat pads where it is necessary but, make sure they are the right size and thickness.

TheMystic · Aug 20, 2023

Flashorn said:
Like I said, I have never worked on a Acer before but, from what I have learned is that, both RAM modules should be of the same type and manufacturer. That's where the Acer Community comes in. They should be able to tell you what you need exactly to make this work.

Yes, I will check with them. Thank you.

Flashorn said:
As for the SSDs, ask if the motherboard will accommodate 1 or 2TBs PER SLOT and not in total. I believe I saw a third connection for a SATA drive in the left hand corner of the screens you provided. If so, you might be able to add another storage drive.

I don't have any immediate plans to put more than a 1 TB disk, and I'm pretty sure each slot would be able to support a 1 TB disk individually, and very likely a 2 TB one too. It is then a question of how much the motherboard can support in total. And yes, there are a total of 3 SSD slots, where one is SATA. I will check this with the Acer community as well.

Flashorn said:
Just be aware that, by adding more components to the inside of the notebook, there will be more heat generated by the new SSDs.
They do tend to get hot. Add those heat pads where it is necessary but, make sure they are the right size and thickness.

Heat pads for the SSDs? Where do I add them?

Flashorn · Aug 20, 2023

BTW, when you open the back of the notebook, unplug the battery and if at all possible
press on the ON button to relieve the Caps from any power.
Once you have accomplished your goals, replace the back BUT, do not replace All the
screws. If some thing goes wrong, you wont have to remove all of those screws again.
You can replace them once all is in order.
A word of caution. Make sure to Plug in the notebook after you have done the work.
By purging the Caps, there won't be any power left to restart the notebook.
Also, it is advisable to have a anti-static wrist band or pad. I prefer the pad.

https://www.amazon.ca/Anti-Static-Wrist-Straps-Anti-Static/dp/B017164JHA?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-24x27-5in-Desktop-Anti-Static-M3013/dp/B00009XT3H/ref=sr_1_5?crid=95P67142KL1W&keywords=anti%2Bstatic%2Bpad%2Bfor%2Bcomputer&qid=1692541261&sprefix=anti-static%2Bpad%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-5&th=1

Flashorn · Aug 20, 2023

TheMystic said:
Heat pads for the SSDs? Where do I add them?

Which ever SSD you buy, make sure that the memory chip and the controller are of
the same height or thickness. Take a straight edge or a ruler and lay the SSD on either
one . Notice if there is a gap between both while sitting on the ruler or straight edge.
If there is, you'll need to cut the thermal tape. One has to be thicker than the other
to close the gap between where the SSD will sit in the notebook to make sure there are no gaps
so that the thermal tape can do it's job of effectively reducing the heat that the SSDs will
create. Thermal tape size should be 1mm and 1.5 mm. They go right over the memory
chip and the controller.

Rollback_Jockey · Aug 24, 2023

What does a scan from crucial.com tell you.

Flashorn · Aug 24, 2023

Rollback_Jockey said:
What does a scan from crucial.com tell you.

It should tell you the appropriate hardware to use for your application be
it nvme , memory and usually both in the same scan plus the different sizes.

Rollback_Jockey · Aug 24, 2023

Flashorn said:
It should tell you the appropriate hardware to use for your application be
it nvme , memory and usually both in the same scan plus the different sizes.

Yes i know, its not me having the problem, i was making a suggestion to the OP.