MSI gx740 i5-480M memory upgrade.

Hi folks.

I've had my laptop, MSI gx740 i5-480M for quite some years, and only replaced the old HDD, with a samsung 256gb SSD.

I would love an oppinion, if upgrading my memory would be adviceable. My laptop currently holds 4 gb, and I have been given an offer to purchase 8 gb (2x4gb) of samsung ram with following specs:

Samsung, 8GB, DDR3 SDRAM, SO DIMM 204-pin
Samsung 2X4GB 1333MHZ PC3-10600S-09-11-F3
Type: 204-Pin DDR3 SODIMM
Capacity: 2X4GB
Speed: DDR3 1333 MHz (PC3-10600)
Timings: CL9
Voltage: 1.5V
Buffering/Ecc: Non-ECC Unbuffered

would my motherboard be able to hold the 1333 mhz (or do I need to find 1067 mhz) and is it even worth the upgrade for gaming? The offer for the ram upgrade is 40 euros. I dont plan on purchasing a new pc within the next six months.

Picture of my specs are in this link: http://imgur.com/ir3qwkH

Thank you a lot in advance.

 

8GB max (2 x 4GB). But I'd pass on that Samsung memory. You need DDR3L (1.35V memory). That 1.5V memory is a bad idea. So yeah, the speed is not an issue, the voltage is.

8GB is not expensive. Crucial sells an 8GB DDR3L kit guaranteed to work for $36 + tax & ship.

Edit: I know you're not in the US, but posted the example to show that, even overseas (Europe? Scandinavia?), 8 gig of DDR3L SODIMM laptop memory is not exactly a big ticket item.

 

Thank you a lot for the reply. Do you know if the upgrade would improve my computers performance for gaming? Just if it's cost efficient.

 

My advice is to add to RAM only if you need more RAM. If you find yourself stretching resources thin, go for it - or if you simply want more, then more power to you. You won't see any in-game performance, and probably very little overall system performance (unless you upgrade to high-performance RAM, and even then, it won't be a big difference).

 

The voltage doesn't matter. If it's 1.5V or 1.35V, it isn't skylake, to have such impact.
I have in this notebook 8GB DDR3 1600mhz 1,5V, in single channel (only 1), and it's working. Also you can add 2 of them to have 16GB, and it's still will be working (at least with i7 920xm in my config, but with i5 shouldn't be a problem too). Don't be fooled by schemes, that tell max is 8gb, if you need more - it will work.
For you I would reccomend to upgrade processor to i7 ie. i7 920xm, to have significent upgrade in performance

 

Unless the cost to get by is reasonable otherwise I wouldn't go with a proc upgrade.

 

Cost of the older i7 aren't high. Even 100-125USD is a good price, for a boost it can give. You don't have to buy new computer at least for a year.

 

That cost doesn't really justify for the performance boost, please refer to their synthetic benchmark comparison below.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-840QM+@+1.87GHz&id=854
https://cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-920XM+@+2.00GHz&id=864

 

Better buy new computer for 600-1000usd?

 

It's up to you, because a new system performs way faster in terms of CPU & GPU processing power therefore it may be better to save now then buy a new one later. It is what it is because technology evolves and become faster everyday.

 

It's normal that newer will be better isn't it? But I would upgrade it for cheap now, and keep going 2 more years until newer technology came. Skylake is fast, but it isn't even 2x times faster than 2009 processor (1.6-1.7x times only), and from 2003 to 2009 we have boost like 4-6x times or more. It's a considerable slowdown in progress, and older technology isn't in fact so slow, like it would be a few years ago.

 

GPU, Memory, and SSD are better upgrades, CPU is not noticeable, so I don't recommend CPU upgrade, but again it is up to you.

 

GPU yes. Memory - yes if not sufficent, SSD also good. But when I upgraded from i5 to i7, I have seen considerably better perfomance in the system and in normal working even without benchmark or any manner. Even youtube on Full HD or 4K is better working