Laptop Upgrade: RAM or SSD?

RBX

In the zone
I have a Dell L502X from 2011. I use it mostly for work related stuff now (programming).

Lately 2 projects with jit compilation running in them, and a browser with a bunch of tabs has been enough to cause delayed responses to simple activities such as switching windows.

The config is i7 2630QM, 6GB RAM (2GB sk hynix + 4GB samsung), and a HDD with 7200RPM.

The memory usage remains between 75 and 90%, the HDD gets often choked up with one or other windows 10 process being the cause of it. The CPU usage remains quite low.

I have a budget of around 6k, maybe stretch it a bit over course of 2 months. Don't want to spend too much on this as I'm trying to save up for a mid-range desktop so I can resume casual gaming.

I'm unsure what should I go with, this somewhat shady deal on amazon, which offers 2x 8GB sticks for 5.5k, or this 250 GB Samsung SSD for 4.7k as my primary disk, and put current HDD in a caddy which should cost around Rs 500. Maybe I could get SSD this month, and next month get just 1 8GB stick to replace the 2GB one?

Also, I'm not entirely sure if this laptop supports SSDs. I read something about the bios not supporting it, but it should after an update. My BIOS version is A12.
 

Stormbringer

Ambassador of Buzz
I have a Dell L502X from 2011. I use it mostly for work related stuff now (programming).

Lately 2 projects with jit compilation running in them, and a browser with a bunch of tabs has been enough to cause delayed responses to simple activities such as switching windows.

The config is i7 2630QM, 6GB RAM (2GB sk hynix + 4GB samsung), and a HDD with 7200RPM.

The memory usage remains between 75 and 90%, the HDD gets often choked up with one or other windows 10 process being the cause of it. The CPU usage remains quite low.

I have a budget of around 6k, maybe stretch it a bit over course of 2 months. Don't want to spend too much on this as I'm trying to save up for a mid-range desktop so I can resume casual gaming.

I'm unsure what should I go with, this somewhat shady deal on amazon, which offers 2x 8GB sticks for 5.5k, or this 250 GB Samsung SSD for 4.7k as my primary disk, and put current HDD in a caddy which should cost around Rs 500. Maybe I could get SSD this month, and next month get just 1 8GB stick to replace the 2GB one?

Also, I'm not entirely sure if this laptop supports SSDs. I read something about the bios not supporting it, but it should after an update. My BIOS version is A12.
The SSD would have more impact than the RAM. I have the Dell XPS L501x model. Upgrading from HDD to SSD did wonders to my laptop. I don't think your laptop will have an issue supporting SSD.
 
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RBX

RBX

In the zone
Thanks for the reply. Do you think the product I linked (Samsung 860 Evo 250GB SATA III) is compatible?

Also, how easy is migration? I think I'd like to just move over the partition containing OS. How does it work, do I first need to replace optical drive with SSD, then switch places, because I also remember reading the boot process doesn't work if I'm using SSD from the slot which earlier mounted optical drive.
 

Stormbringer

Ambassador of Buzz
Thanks for the reply. Do you think the product I linked (Samsung 860 Evo 250GB SATA III) is compatible?
Looks like it is compatible as per this website New Samsung SSD 860 EVO 250GB SATA III Hard Drive MZ-76E250
Also, how easy is migration? I think I'd like to just move over the partition containing OS. How does it work, do I first need to replace optical drive with SSD, then switch places, because I also remember reading the boot process doesn't work if I'm using SSD from the slot which earlier mounted optical drive.

In my case, i had bought a external HDD case with USB 3.0 for the internal HDD that I was gonna replace the SSD with. I put the SSD in the case and then used a cloning software to clone the OS partition of HDD. After that I just swapped the HDD with SSD . Fortunately everything worked smoothly.

Note : The SATA port for the Optical drive is usually the slower. SATA II if i remember correctly. So i think it will work but will be a bit slow. I don't remember the cloning software used, but it was a free one. I think Samsung provided software for the SSD can do the cloning thing.
 
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whitestar_999

Super Moderator
Staff member
Samsung ssd comes with samsung magician software which is a must have & it also has os cloning/transfer feature.Just buy this case *www.amazon.in/External-Portable-USB3-0-2139U3-CR-Transparent/dp/B01N07NBLA & install samsung magician & then connect samsung ssd in this case to your laptop.Use samsung magician OS transfer feature to copy OS drive to this samsung drive.Then shutdown laptop,take off ssd from the case & install it in place of hdd.Put hdd in this case now(but do not connect this case+hdd to laptop before verifying laptop boots correctly from samsung ssd first).

P.S. ssd is fine but this case traps heat(as non-conductive cover) so better use hdd while keeping the sliding cover open especially if you live in a hot climate region.
 
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