Question about upgrading HP Compaq 6820s

That model comes with a variety of processors, which one do you have...its is upgradeable to a max of 4GBs..its a 32 bit system..Going to 64bit would be a good step but, 4GBs is probably around minimum..You would prabably be running into a serious barrier with the video chip (GPU) which is not readily upgradeable

Install and run Belarc advisor, should give you the processor size along with other good data..as I mentioned, your laptop is upgradeable to 4GBs of memory (from the specs Ihave seen) not 8 GBs..Personally, if your system is only capable of 4GBs memory, I wouldnt bother

Hi RuneJayce,

Based on information I can find, your system has a PM965 North Bridge and supports Socket P Intel chips. These would include Penryn-core Core 2 Duo with an 800 MHz front side bus speed (up to a Core 2 Duo T9500).

This is the same basic hardware as my DV9700t.

Depending on if the chip is soldered to the motherboard or if it is in a socket, you may be able to upgrae it. Whether or not you NEED to depends on the chip currently installed (basically, if it's a T8300, T9300, or T9500, I wouldn't bother).

As far as RAM, you have a max of 8 GB (the info I have says you have two slots, each should support a 4 GB stick).

As far as hard drive capacity, you can put basically any 2.5" HDD in there. I have a 320 GB HDD and a 128 GB SSD in my system. There are 500 GB and some 750 GB drives out there. There ARE 1 TB 2.5" HDDs but so far all the ones I've seen are non-standard height and won't fit in many drive bays.

The system would have no issues running a 64-bit OS (provided there are drivers available, though this would only really be an issue with an OS other than Windows).

The only real restriction in your system will be the video. It would be worth your time to decide if the cost of any upgrades is worth being stuck with whatever video you have.

Of course, your mileage may vary, but I have done similar upgrades on other systems at work with the same basic hardware and been successful.

Regards,
O Shadow Fox O

Obviously the spec info I found was wrong...it maxed out at 4GBs....should have checked further

Hi guys,

Saugen: The 4 GB max spec is the OFFICIALLY given maximum for the PM965 (as well as the GM965, which is just the PM with Intel graphics). The reasoning I've read is that at the time those chips were produced and in-use, 4 GB sticks were unreasonably, infeasibly expensive for the average person to own so Intel didn't bother to include them in the specs. Crucial's memory tools and most official documentation all say 4 GB max, so it's an easy thing to believe.

The only reason I know 8 GB should work fine is because I gambled and won with my system and used that info for another system at my work, which also works fine.

RuneJayce: If you have the money and the interest, I would try out an 8 GB setup. If it doesn't work you can always refund the RAM, but if it does then you have a good, modern RAM capacity. It's going to be more expensive than 8 GB of DDR3, but not horrifically over-priced if you shop around.

4 GB IS still also fairly workable (depending on the games you're talking about) but 8 GB would definitely ensure the system remains viable for longer.

If they produced 8 GB DDR2 sticks, I would test those out too but they don't. It's just as well, at the current pricing of DDR2 memory, they'd still be prohibitively expensive for me.

Just my two cents.

Regards,
O Shadow Fox O