I Upgraded My Laptop's RAM, the Performance Boost Wasn't What You'd Expect

Upgrading your aging laptop? Adding RAM is the easiest and often the only practical upgrade besides storage. My recent experience upgrading a Dell Latitude 5420 proved surprisingly impactful.

More RAM Wasn't the Initial Goal

My used Dell 5420, while boasting a fast 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, initially disappointed with its gaming performance. I initially planned to use it primarily for work, assuming the Iris Xe graphics were the bottleneck. However, I realized that maximizing RAM performance was key. While 16GB is sufficient for typical tasks, I discovered only one RAM slot was populated.

The Real Performance Boost: Dual-Channel

Adding a second, identical RAM stick to enable dual-channel mode dramatically improved performance. Web browsing felt snappier, but the most significant improvement was in gaming. Games previously unplayable, like Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012), now ran smoothly at 60 FPS with improved settings. Even Hades II saw a marked improvement.

3DMark Night Raid benchmarks confirmed the upgrade's impact. The graphics score increased by 30%, from approximately 11,815 to 15,355, while CPU scores remained consistent. This aligns with findings from other tech reviewers.

The smoother gameplay, with fewer microstutters, was immediately noticeable. While some games are more sensitive to dual-channel than others, the overall improvement was significant.

Why Dual-Channel Matters

Dual-channel memory doubles data transfer speed (128-bit vs. 64-bit), allowing the CPU to work faster. This is especially beneficial for laptops with integrated graphics, as the CPU and GPU share system RAM. Essentially, the increased bandwidth allows the integrated GPU quicker access to data, leading to higher FPS and reduced stuttering. I also learned that dual-channel is practically essential for unlocking the full potential of Iris Xe graphics on 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPUs, maximizing the number of Execution Units (EUs).

An Easy and Affordable Upgrade

If your laptop has upgradeable RAM and an empty slot, adding RAM, especially to enable dual-channel, is a worthwhile upgrade. My $30 investment in a 16GB DDR4 stick yielded substantial performance gains.

Remember, not all laptops allow RAM upgrades. If your RAM is soldered, upgrading isn't possible. Also, aim for matching RAM specs (brand, capacity, frequency, timings, rank) for optimal dual-channel performance.

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