Let's state by stating that laptops aren’t as easy to upgrade as your average desktop PCs. There are exceptions for both types of system, but cramming everything into something you can slide into your bag means that compromises have to be made. You won’t, for example, have the option of upgrading the processor or swap out the graphics subsystem in your average Dell laptop, but you may be able to boost its memory capacity or increase the storage on offer.
It does depend on your specific Dell model though, as some of the more recent systems use LPDDR4 and LPDDR5 memory that is soldered directly onto the motherboard. This can’t be upgraded by you the end user, which is a shame, but possibly a necessary decision needed to hit certain form factors, weights, or performance goals.
Even if you can’t upgrade the memory, you may still be able to upgrade the SSD. By way of example, the Dell Latitude 7420 supports a full M.2 2280 upgrade for some great storage boosting options, although the LPDDR4x memory cannot be upgraded at all.
The upgrade potential for your particular Dell machine is defined by the specific model. The best way of finding out your upgrade options is to start by searching for your model on Dell’s website. If you’re unsure on which machine you’ve got, you should find the model name on the underside of the machine. Alternatively, if you right-click the Start button and select System from the pop-up list, you’ll find the model list at the top of the page.
Another way of finding details about your laptop model, as well as the Service Tag, which can be very useful for finding your specific build options, is via the Dell Command application, which you should be able to find installed on your system. If not, you can download it directly from this direct link to the Dell website.
If you’re looking to upgrade the memory specifically, then you should point your browser at our Memory Finder search page, select Notebooks from the Systems drop-down menu, Dell from the Manufacturer box and then your specific model from the last menu. This will present a list of compatible memory options for your specific machine – if you don’t see your model listed, then there’s a chance that you can’t upgrade the memory.
As for actually performing the upgrade, this article shows you how to upgrade your laptop memory.
A memory upgrade can have a huge impact on a gaming as well as on more serious pursuits, so it's worth upgrading if you can.
