How to upgrade HP Pavilion Slimline RAM and replace Harddrive
/* Posted June 25th, 2008 at 2:50pm *//* Filed under Hardware, How-To */
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In a recent post, we talked about upgrading the HP Slimline desktop. While doing this I wasn’t able to find good instructions on how to take the thing apart to get access to the RAM and HD, so I decided to write my own.
To get to the RAM and the HD there is on step that gets in the way, everything else after that is simple.
To start off, you need to take off the case housing. 3 simple screws as pictured below and then slide off the side panel.
This is where it got a little tricky. To remove the HP expand bay, you need to pull the black tab up while slideing the whole piece to the left, once you get that out, its pretty easy to do the rest.
To remove the CD-ROM to get to the RAM slots, after you remove the HP expansion bay slot, there is a black screw. remove then..
you need to push the tab on the top outwards and then push the back of the cd-rom to gain enough access/room
To remove/replace the HD:
unscrew the screw in the left hand corner and then unlatch the HD lock, after that unplug and pull the drive out.
I went a step further and replaced the video card. After reading some more about the board/power supply, i have come to the conclusion that you can only replace the CPU with one that is 65watts. I have been hearing rumors that anything more might blow out the board. Upgrade the cpu with caution.
End results of total upgrade on my PC:
Begining Spec:
AMD x2 5000+
400gb HD
2GB Ram
GeForce 7260 on board Video card (Shared Ram)
Updated Spec
AMD x2 5200+
500gb HD
4GB DDR2 667 RAM
PNY GeForce 8600 GT VCG86512D2GXWB 512mb Video Card (dual outs)
I also ended up punching out a whole in the back and adding another video port so that it could run dual monitors. Pictures below.
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Why not just build a computer?
You cant get the remote or the case if you buy an aftermarket one. This computer is TINY. If you have ever seen it, its one of the smallest dual core desktops out there
Thanks for this writeup. The black tab trick had me stumped until I read this.
is this pc ram upgradable to 4gb
Thank you so much for putting this up. It was very very helpful and so easy to follow. You should write instruction manuels.
I just got my slimline – thanks for the guidance on the memory. I also bought an 8500 gt – you didn’t have any problems using your video card with the power supply?
Thank you so much for this information, I have been searching on internet for hours and you are the only person who provided it. I contact hp chat site to upgrade my RAM for myself and they told me doesn´t have any support about this…
Thanks so much for sharing the info on how to upgrade this pc. After removing the casing, I expected to be able to just pop the old RAM out and the new in. Several frustrated hours later, I came across this site while on my laptop and now, my pc is running smoother than ever. I really appreciate you taking your time to help the rest of us Slimline owners with this problem.
Anne
Will this work for all of the HP Slimlines?
A fantastic tutorial, thank you! You omitted the need to remove the front panel of the case in order to slide the CD-Rom Drive out the front, but other than that it was very detailed and extremely helpful. :)
Hi i have one of these and was wondering if its an extra expansion slot for the ram or do i need to purchase a 4gb ram card??
Mines has 2gb ddr
THANKS FOR THIS TUTORIAL!!! It made it 1000 times easier than it would have been.
Like someone else mentioned, you do need to take the front of the case off as well, but that was easy.
I am currently trying to upgrade from 2 Gig to 4 Gig as well, but even though the ram I bought has the same config (pc2-5300 667) whenever I install either ram, my computer will not POST, it just Beeps 1 short, 1 long.
I have tried every combination or Ram possible and am 100% positive that it is seated wrong.
i am wondering is this computer picky about the actual ram chip?
can I ask where you got your 4Gb ram from or what it is?
This is not my first RAM upgrade, but it has me feeling like a n00b.
THANKS AGAIN AND THANKS IN ADVANCE!
@marco
The RAM slots exposed in this article are the only memory slots available on the HP Pavilion Slimline.
The default configuration on my Slimline (s3280a) came with both slots populated with 512mb, a total of 1 Gigabyte of Ram.
You should also check the maximum memory that your machine can take. My unit can use a maximum of 2 gigabytes of RAM.
Also, when you upgrade any memory make sure you upgrade in pairs of memory chips. This allows the PC to take advantage of “dual channel” technology, enhancing performance.
is a hp slimline good or bad?
Thanks! – I was stumped on how to remove the cd-rom until I read this. The manuals on the HP website are not slimline-specific.
I have a slimline and wondering if there is an extra/open expansion slot. i would like to add a DVR card for security cameras. will a slimline take an extra DVR card?
I just followed your directions on upgrading ram on my slimline. When I turn it on, it beeps and does not boot. WHen I shut off unit two more times, it will boot on the third try. I also have a wireless mouse and keybord that it is not recognizing. DO you have any suggestions for these problems?
2gb is max allowed for this motherboard, check HP official site, so you can add 1gb to each slot for 2gb, I upgraded my 512s with 1gbs and works fine.
I have s3100n, 2gb is max for this pc, your may be different but check hp site to be sure before you buy ram
Yellow!!! Is there a better graphics card than the one used in this since it has been about a year?
thanks, your work had been very helpfull.
hallo there i need your help i recently buy this board from ebay but i cant find a redention bracked.sems the am2 brackets wont fit,is there any compartible ones? it looks like the socket 775 bracket style.but wich one will fit i tried one stock 775 bracket but the heatsink leaves space.please help me.thanks
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Can someone help me? I have this computer, it is two years old. When I did the Vista SP1 back in December, it crashed (0×00000C1F5) BSOD. Anyway, I had my computer open so that I could plug the hard drive up to my laptop to try and recover docs from the hard drive. I unplugged the power source to disconnect the adapter, plugged the power source back up and now NOTHING, the computer will not even come on. HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
ok i just wanna say that i have the same CPU same layout (OF Course)..
ive been looking for a Graphics card and from what ive ben researching this is one of the best selection (with my budget of course).
http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PV-T95G-YALG-9500GT-512MB-Express/dp/B001F27HKS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233461319&sr=8-2
My only problem is..WILL IT FIT?!
There is another version of the GT 9500 (ZAFG) which is 1G..whats the difference if anyone can tell me?
Thanks in advanced!
This is the second time my slimline pc failed to boot. Sent it to warranty service the first time, then within 3 months, will not boot again. HP support told me to take out the RAM card and listen for beeps, but couldn’t tell me how to. This was the only place I could find that showed me!! Good job!
Thanks.
thanks, saved me some time.
The fish thank you too.
Thanks A LOT for the tutorial, i needed to change a faulty hard-drive and was afraid to break the damned HP expand bay … here was the ONLY place explaining how to do it. Thanks again!
I was going to upgrade a Pavilion Slimline S3220n from 2GB to 4GB (2×2GB modules). Used above instructions which were great until I got to moving the DVD reader out of the way to get to the memory slots. Could not do it. Clearly a step was missing in the instructions.
The missing step was the removal of the front cover. To do that one has to press together the 2 white upper plastic tabs and press apart the 2 top ones. The cover then neatly pushes out.
My PC has now 4GB installed and I hope it wont freeze up when multitasking.
Thank you for the guide. This helped tremendously.
This Is Not Working For Me, I Took Out The Black Screw, And Pulled The Tab Outwards But The CD ROM Drive IS Not Budging Also I Took Out The Hardrive Below The CD DRIVE.