Top 5 Best DDR4 RAM for Laptops 2018
Laptops and Gaming Laptops go a long way as much as some users say it isn’t the case. Sure, nothing beats the convenience that a Gaming PC on a desktop can offer. However, some people can’t afford to stay in their home for long periods of time and will have to resort to the choices that can be used on the go.
Laptops benefit greatly from their RAM since it’s the thing that carries them the most compared to Desktop computers which mainly rely on their graphics cards and processors. So what happens when the RAM of a laptop doesn’t offer enough in terms of speed and ends up slowing down the computer?
Well, in that case it’s about time to perform an upgrade to the laptop itself and as such, it’s important to note that there are many different aspects to consider in terms of helping your laptop speed up with a RAM upgrade.
For those who are new to DDR4 chips, let’s read over the basics. DDR4 RAM Memory Sticks have transfer rates that go between 2133 and 4266 Million Transfers per Second (MT/s). The reason why this is impressive is because DDR3 memories can only do up to 800 to 2133MT/s. The high amount of transfer rates allows for better functionality with current generation processors and other hardware.
There are also two types of RAM memory that need to be taken into account in terms of capabilities: Single Rank and Dual Rank. Simply put, a memory Rank is a block or area of data that is created using some or all the memory chips on a memory module.
Generally, Single Rank RAM chips tend to be more expensive than Dual Rank RAM memories. Rank in and off itself is basically a way of determining the compatibility of a chip more so than a marker for the Performance of the chip itself. In other words, most people would want to have matching ranks with that of their user manual.
Of course, it’s also important to consider the capacity of the chips themseleves as well. Capacities of RAM chips can range from 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and in the least common cases 64GB. The more capacity a RAM chip has, the more perfectly it will be capable of performing under rigorous conditions and opening various programs.
As such, the higher amount of RAM a computer uses will go a long way into delivering a slowdown-free experience for most users. But what is the criteria that needs to be used in order to upgrade your computer’s RAM effectively?
Which RAM Brand is best for Laptops?
DDR4 RAMs were pioneered by Samsung and will always be the first company to choose in terms of RAM choices for laptops and desktops alike. However, a lot of people who want to upgrade their DDR4 RAM laptops will probably know about other brands that stand out on their own in terms of effectiveness.
Corsair is one of the premiere brands in terms of RAM chips. Their Vengeance lineup of RAM Chips prove to be a great contender in terms of RAM capabilities which are preferred by people who just can’t get enough from their performance. This also comes with the perk of having huge choices for overclocking and adjusting to Intel’s XMP 2.0 profiles.
Kingston also offers a great choice for a lot of people with their RAM chips as well. Kingston is known for producing the cheapest and most effective versions of SD Cards and USB memory sticks but that doesn’t mean that their RAM capabilities are sub-par either. On the contrary, their ability to make RAM chips stands out the most due to how affordable they are.
The third company that stands out in terms of performance is definitely G.Skill which surprisingly offers DDR4 laptop memories even though they are known primarily for their capability to make Desktop memories. The product that stands out from them is the Ripjaws DDR4 SO-DIMM memory stick which provides fast data transfer speeds and higher energy efficiency.
That’s the top 3 brands that should be considered for Laptop RAM memory upgrades. However, other companies that can stand out on their own in terms of memory are Timetec, OCZ, ADATA, Lenovo, Micron and Transcend. All of these companies offer the most value for your dollar and will give you a good experience for your laptop.
How to Find Out if Your Selected RAM is Supported on your Laptop?
A lot of people may think that getting a RAM chip is just getting the thing and then upgrading the laptop. While this is far from the case as the user has to inspect the computer’s compatibility with the chip, it should also be noted that it’s not as complicated as it might seem.
First thing that any user should consider is whether or not the RAM chips are easily accessible. Most laptops have a hatch on the underside of them which gives access to the chips themselves. It’s usually a matter of removing said hatch and performing the RAM exchange accordingly.
However, some laptops do not have a Hatch or allow for easy access to the RAM chips on them. As such, it’s important to just leave the issue right then and there. However, if the user wants to insist on performing the upgrade, the user’s manual of the laptop itself will allow the reader to know their laptop’s RAM compatibilities.
Another great set of tools are those provided by Crucial and Kingston. These are online tools that basically provide you with the best compatibility options for your laptop of choice, which includes every manufacturer including Acer, ASUS, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, among others.
Of course, we can’t forget that the laptop has to be able to support DDR4 chips themselves. As such, it’s important to note that laptops often mention the compatibility they have with certain chips in the manuals. It would be pretty pointless to buy a DDR4 chip on a computer that only accepts DDR3 chips.
How much RAM does Your Laptop Need?
Something a lot of people ask is the amount of RAM people needs in order to have their computers function properly. While it is a bit simple to say that just with 2GB of DDR4 of RAM is enough. It should be noted that there are a lot of functions that need to be taken into account in order to know what the computer is and isn’t capable of and what the computer is used for.
While opting for more RAM is always good advice, it doesn’t answer the more specific questions of how much RAM is needed for specific uses, or what you can reasonably expect to do with the RAM your laptop already has. A lot of users could just be spending money recklessly into an upgrade that’s mostly superfluous.
Office productivity tasks don’t need more than 2GB of RAM in order to have the best of their laptops functioning. However, the tasks become more demanding once we get to subjects like Web browsing as browsers like Mozilla Firefox can take up to 2GB of memory in order to function, as such, it’s more recommended to upgrade to 4GB of RAM in order to accommodate to these tasks.
Now, once we get to even more complex tasks such as video streaming, Photo Edition and gaming. It’s usually recommended to go for 8GB or as far as 16GB in order to get the best experience possible. In fact, current graphics cards usually demand 16GB to get the best gaming experience without any sort of slowdown.
The 5 Best DDR4 RAM for Laptops
And now, we’re including our 5 picks for best DDR4 RAM memory sticks that stand out on their own. These memory sticks were carefully picked among many entries and the editorial team at Appuals believes that these are the best choices for DDR4 RAM in the market. Whether it being performance, price or the best of the best at both, these DDR4 RAM chips prove to be the best.
Corsair makes a return to the Top DDR4 RAM chips with this gem. This is a gem with 2400 Mhz of Frequency and is perfect for Notebooks with 6th Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 Processors. This also comes with a whopping 16GB of RAM separated into two 8GB Chips, allowing for compatibility with most computers that have dual RAM slots.
This Memory Stick allows for a faster performance without the need of tweaking with the computer’s BIOS. It also is slim enough in order to meet the standards of most laptops thanks to the SO-DIMM technology it uses, giving it about half the size of a normal RAM chip that will definitely make a lot of Laptop users happy.
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High Frequency |  |
High Latency (C16) |
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1.2V of Power Consumption | |
Not Compatible with i3 Processors |
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Capable of Auto Overclock |
Corsair Memory Kit
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High Frequency |
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1.2V of Power Consumption |
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Capable of Auto Overclock |
|
High Latency (C16) |
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Not Compatible with i3 Processors |
Check Price
Another advantage offered by this RAM chip is the compatibility it has with a wide variety of laptops including iMac and Alienware laptops. However, it should be important to note that not so many computers of previous generations will be up to the task of taking the amount of power and technology the Corsair RAM chips offer.
As such, it’s important to note that Intel Core i3 Computers will very likely not be up to the task and users will be better off looking for their Memory fill somewhere else. However, computers with DDR4 support like the HP Omen 15-ce019dx which has a 7th generation Intel core i7 Processor.
Although this is a great memory for Laptops themselves, this also seems to be quite the favorite among iMac users. With reviews of this product often praising the compatibility of the chip with their precious Apple Brand computers. As such, it’s important to note that this is one of the best RAM chips for the iMac systems.
Thanks to the overclocking capability this RAM chip has, a lot of computers will instantly see a speed boost on their laptops and doing every task will almost seem like a complete walk in the park. For this reason and so many more, the Corsair DDR4 RAM Kit will definitely please those who purchase it and give their laptop a well-deserved push in the right direction.
Timetec’s Classic Hynix memory stick makes a return in its Laptop-Friendly form. The Hynix model is known for the increased perofrmance without going too far away from the classic and austere design that other RAM chips of old are known for. This item sacrifices the practicality of things like Heat Sinks in order to favor the performance users will always seek for.
Timetec Hynix SO-DIMM also comes with the Following Variants:
| Capacity | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single Chip | 4GB | 8GB |
| Kits | 8GB (2X4GB) | 16GB (2X8GB) |
A lot of users classify this RAM as a chip that does the job it sets out to do with flying colors. Not only that but it’s heavily recommended by PC enthusiasts who love to overclock their memory with their computers. It’s a great memory chip that will definitely give the users the performance boost they have been seeking for by also including the affordability.
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1.14V of Power Consumption (Variable up to 1.26V) | |
High Latency (C19) |
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2666Mhz of Frequency | |
Extremely limited compatibility |
Timetec Hynix SO-DIMM
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1.14V of Power Consumption (Variable up to 1.26V) |
|
2666Mhz of Frequency |
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High Latency (C19) |
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Extremely limited compatibility |
Check PriceOne of the biggest disadvantages of the Timetec Hynix SO-DIMM memory chips and kits is the extremely limited compatibility with laptops and systems. The manufacturers list that’s been proven to work properly with this lineup of chips comes as follows:
- Acer
- ASUS/ASmobile
- Dell
- Fujitsu
- Gigabyte
- Compaq
- MSI
Other computers that aren’t from these manufacturers can present compatibility issues with this memory chip and end up doing it more harm than good. This will often be noticed by constant program crashing and a continous need of rebooting and tweaking with the incompatible system’s BIOS.
However, if the computer fits the criteria and is actually fitting for the computer manufacturers listed by Timetec themselves. The Timetec Hynix SO-DIMM variety of RAM chips will definitely allow for a premium experience without the need of fancy schmancy rainbow color schemes, silver plated plaques or any other gimmick that comes with modern day DDR4 RAM chips.
You don’t mess with the classics after all, Timetec is definitely a company capable of proving that a classic design will never age and stand the test of time. At the end of the day, any and all users who use this memory and fit the criteria will find a very pleasing experience altogether.
Another returning veteran for the Top DDR4 RAM list. G.Skill shows their capabilities with the laptop-friendly variation of their Ripjaws series of RAM chips. This blazing RAM is one of the fastest memory chips in the market and allows for a fast speed with the latest chipsets.
Built with the finest components, tested under the most rigorous conditions, and coming with the promise of an amazing experience of the user, The Ripjaws Family of Products is the perfect choice for building a new performance system or for a simple memory upgrade. It guarantees the user with an experience that they’ve never been able to experience before, it especially works for SSD Drive systems.
G.Skill Ripjaws Series
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1.2V of Power Consumption |
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Up to 3000Mhz of Frequency |
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High Latency (C16) |
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Extremely pricey |
Check PriceThe Plug&Play capability this chip has is one of its most defining qualities. That and the compatibility with Intel’s XMP 2.0 Profiles which allows for an even smoother experience for the people who just can’t get enough from Overclocking their computers and pushing them to the edge of their limits.
This is also a Memory Stick that has also proven its functionality among a lot of laptops as well. With nearly none of them presenting huge issues like Crashes or dumped system files that are caused due to compatibility issues. As such, the user is almost guaranteed that they will get a premier experience given that the laptop supports DDR4 memory sticks.
A huge detriment to the product is definitely the price point which will make users feel like they’ve got to pay a pretty penny in order to get the best experience. However, the Ripjaws Series will always come with a guarantee that their products will help the users with their computer experience. Of course, this is a product that will make gaming an easier task than before as well.
The HyperX Family of products by Kingston makes yet another comeback in the form of the Impact series of products that are designed in order to make the compatibility with laptops. This memory chip offers choices in order to allow users to step up their game and meet with an experience that’s truly ahead of its time.
The HyperX Impact Also Comes in the Following Varieties:
| Memory | Frequency | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4GB | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | |||
| 8GB | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200Mhz |
| 16GB | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200Mhz |
| 8GB Kit (2X4GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | |||
| 16GB Kit (2X8GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200Mhz |
| 16GB Kit (4X4GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | |||
| 32GB Kit (2X16GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200Mhz |
| 32GB Kit (4X8GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | |||
| 64GB Kit (4X16GB) | 2400Mhz |
Yes, it should be no secret that a lot of people and gamers will consider 32GB as Overkill. However, some demanding games like Final Fantasy XV can actually get the help of such huge amount of memory. This will also incredibly benefit the computer for other tasks like web browsing and streaming.
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Plug&Play Functionality | |
Average Frequency for a premium product |
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1.2V of Energy Consumption | |
Extremely pricey |
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Kingston HyperX Impact
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Plug&Play Functionality |
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1.2V of Energy Consumption |
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|
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Average Frequency for a premium product |
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Extremely pricey |
Check PriceIt’s important to note that the HyperX Impact also comes in a wide variety of Frequencies and Capacities. The reason for this is because some computers might be better off with different frequencies despite having the same memory capacity. It’s very important to check the compatibility with the laptop’s USer Manual in order to prevent compatibility issues becuase of this.
The result of neglecting such important information will result in a downgrade tied to the RAM itself. A computer that supports a maximum of 2400Mhz of freuqency for example will not be able to fully exploit the capabilities of a 3200Mhz chip and thus it will be severely crippled.
Another perk from using these chips is the low-power consumption it offers to users. Increasing the battery life of the computer without much of an issue and allowing it to stay up for longer periods of time without affecting the user’s experience with slow down or other problems of the sort that come from previous generation DDR3 capabilities.
This is also another set of products that suffer from an increased price due to the amount of functionalities it has like the capability of Auto-Overclocking without needing to tweak with the BIOS settings and the Intel XMP Profile compatibility. This is a very important thing to note as well when choosing the perfect RAM in the wide array of choices Kingston offers.
The HyperX series has been known as being one of the prefferred choices for gamers all around. It’s incredible that Kingston went out of their way to make a Laptop ftriendly version of this series of products in order to give an experience that delivers on all fronts so that the Laptop gamers don’t stay out of the party.
Last but certainly not least, we take a look at the Patriot Signature Line. This memory offers a 260-Pin Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module (SODIMM) structure alongside a few more perks that make it suitable for the people who want to go on a strict budget and need to find the best options without having to spend that much cash on the DDR4 memory.
The Signature Line doesn’t offer many choices like other memories on this list. However, this is mostly to adjust to the budget of someone who just wants to perform a computer RAM upgrade rather than looking for something to overclock with XMP profiles and such. It’s important to note that the mere purpose of the inclusion of this product on this list is to count for the people who want to purchase RAM but can’t afford the big brands.
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Plug&Play Functionality | |
2133Mhz of Frequency |
|
1.2V of Energy Consumption | ||
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Mid-Range Latency (C15) |
Patriot memory Signature Line
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Plug&Play Functionality |
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1.2V of Energy Consumption |
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Mid-Range Latency (C15) |
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2133Mhz of Frequency |
Check PriceThe best part about this memory stick is the fact that it delivers in terms of quality and performance for the demanding computers of nowadays. It’s also built for more demanding applications and is often recommended to be used in 16GB sets instead of settling for the usual 8GB.
That said, the important factor here is to check the compartibility of this chip with other laptops. A lot of users have found out that incompatible laptop models will actually end up becoming crippled by Blue Screens of Death and even a lot of crashes on the systems that try to run OS’s like Windows 10.
The memory definitely offers and delivers the best experience possible for any and all users who don’t want to spend big bucks, yes. But sometimes it can also end up being a very costly choice as a bad choice of DDR4 RAM can actually end up causing major damage to your laptop and those are harder to fix.
However, the Patriot memory Signature Line will definitely offer a great array of benefits for the user should the computer be compatible with it. It’s an economical chip that will often throw positive results and bring the best experience for any and all users.
The post Top 5 Best DDR4 RAM for Laptops 2018 appeared first on Appuals.com.
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