Notebook : Lenovo IdeaPad S500 [P/N : 500-14ISK] (Disassembly)

For this particular model the Lenovo IdeaPad S500 is kinda also like the rest, where you need to remove the entire bottom cover just for RAM or HDD upgrade. Luckily it was relatively easy (so to speak) to locate the DIMM slot(s).

But sadly there is only 1 DIMM slot available thus you can only upgrade to a higher capacity RAM instead of adding more.

As I'm removing the bottom cover, I found out that there's are no hidden screws beneath those rubber pads. Well... lucky me.   :D

Immediately I'm greeted by the mainboard, HDD and battery..... but wait, where is the RAM's slot(s) ? Not another type that need to remove the mainboard just to flip over to reveal the it ?

Of course no, its just been covered up by the aluminium shielding (as show below).

After removing the shielding, now you can see the DIMM slot is now visible.

Sadly as I've mentioned earlier, there is only a single DIMM slot available. So you can only choose to replace the existing RAM with higher capacity. Upon checking with Kingston website, only the following model is available :-

1) Kingston 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz [P/N : KCP3L16SD8/8]

There is also a 4GB model, but the existing unit is already at 4GB capacity thus I never bother to check it out since higher capacity of 8GB is available.

This also shows that the maximum capacity available for this notebook is max out at 8GB, there's no way you can upgrade to 16GB (unless you are able to source it and its kinda expensive here in Malaysia for that capacity). Even though you are able to source similar specifications, but there's no guaranteed it will be stable as its untested.

I still preferred parts that are fully tested and proven to works, anyway its up your choice.


!!! HAPPY COMPUTING !!!

Notebook : HP Pavilion x360 Convertible [P/N : 13-u113TU] (Disassembly)

A friend of mine recently found his laptop to be either very slow or will sometimes freezes, he asked my help to upgrade it or to make it fast (whatever it takes)...

Well you know me, I can't reject a friend :D

To be on the safe side, I need to ensure the part's number is correct and whether it supports any kind of upgrade such as RAM & SSD. Thus taking it apart is a must, well kinda as I also need to refresh the thermal compound of the CPU.... here it goes.

At first glance, the first thing that came into my mind was.... WOW! only 4 hidden screws ?? Then I realized there's more hidden beneath the rubber strip (as shown below).

As always, opening any plastic cover take patience, slow, steady and skills. After removing those rubbers it reveals all the screws.

Trying my best to remove the cover doesn't seems to work, after figuring out what went wrong then it just hit me that there's another hidden screw in the middle. Who would have thought that is a screw hidden in there.

Now after removing the middle screw, I thought this is simple but to my surprise I need to flip over to remove the keyboard instead. Carefully I removed the entire keyboard panel as not to damaged the keyboard & touchpad ribbon cables.

Flipping over the keyboard panel after its been removed. Nothing much here but just to shows you how it looks like.

The below picture is the mainboard revealed, just like normal the HDD, battery and other stuffs is visible, but I can't seems to find the RAM's slot(s). Now it hits me again, the RAM slot(s) might be underneath the mainboard and just to be sure I need to remove the mainboard.... ugghhh !! This have disassembly tasks have become from normal to extreme. 

There are 6 screws to remove the battery, be careful on the connectors as its directly connected to the mainboard thus you need to tilt it up abit before sliding out.

How it looks after removing the battery.

Now to remove the HDD, you need to first disconnect the ribbon cable then only remove the 4 screws.

This is how it looks like after removing the HDD.

Before removing the mainboard, you will need to first disconnect all those ribbon cables (as shown below).

Now its time to remove the screws, location as show below. Take note that there's CMOS battery attached to the mainboard and need a little bit of prying on the battery as its glued to the case.

After removing the mainboard, this is how it looks like.

This is the mainboard's view.

Now flip it over, you now able to see the RAM's slots. There are 2 DIMMs available.

Upon checking the RAM's specification, its a DDR4-2400 type. Now I have compared it with HP's PartSurfer website (just for double confirmation). It shows SPS-MEM 4GB 2133MHz 1.2v DDR4 SHARED (P/N : 820569-005).

Sadly upon checking with Kingston & Transcend website, they no longer supports or manufacturer RAM upgrade for this model. Hence I will need to look for an almost similar specifications but un-tested for this notebook thus I'm also not sure of the stability of it.

I've yet to check with HP for the parts availability but I'm doubtful they will have it too. Its kinda sucks for this model to have 2 DIMMs slots yet we need to remove almost everything just for a RAM upgrade.

I still like those models where its just as simple as removing part of the bottom cover to reveal on the RAM or HDD parts. Well I think those days are gone now for sure.

!!! HAPPY COMPUTING !!!