[SOLVED] How much more performance will I get with dual channel RAM on the 2500U?

[EndlessZone123]

I recently got a HP laptop (db0125au) with a Ryzen 5 2500U and it comes with 1x8GB single channel RAM. In games like GTA V i get about 20fps @720p but tests on youtube with the hp x360 do a lot better so I was a bit disappointed. The x360 does have dual channel RAM so could that affect 20+fps in diffrence? I might get another stick of 8gb laptop RAM if it could help that much. Thanks!

Edit: here is the test i have seen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOjbL6ACSMs

 

[Rogue Leader]

Its not so much dual channel ram as the best speed ram you can get. Ryzen processors need fast ram and if you have 1 stick of 2133mhz ram its going to kneecap that processor. The HP Envy X360 laptop usually offers dual channel 2400mhz ram which is significantly better. This also needs to be configured in the BIOS.

 

[InvalidError]

With only 8GB of RAM for the IGP+CPU, you may already have major performance issue simply from not having enough RAM for everything.

Ryzen CPUs gain 10-25% extra performance from dual-channel depending on the task and IGPs can gain upwards of 70%.

Having single-channel memory on an APU is definitely far from ideal for gaming. You can expect to gain 15fps, maybe more depending on how much of your low performance is caused by being low on memory.

You could use HWInfo to see how much GPU usage% you have. If you are seeing ~40% usage at your 20fps due to memory bottlenecks on your current setup, then you can optimistically expect up to 2.5X the performance (~50fps) once the memory bottlenecks are removed.

 

[EndlessZone123]

From CPU-Z, I seems to have 1x8GB DDR4 2666mhz RAM from Hyundai Electronics. No Idea about the Cas/timing of the RAM tho. The bios says nothing other than 8Gb.

The graphics card gets 100% usage but with afterburner overlay it only runs at 300-400mhz on the vega cores while the CPU cores hover around 50% usage. Is this normal as the Graphics should run at 1100mhz on amds site. I heard that there is a power bottleneck on the soc from a few google searces saying that 15w is not enough?

Would dual channel help with the graphics? Even a 10 fps boost will pretty much make a lot of games like GTA playable to my standards.

 

[Rogue Leader]

From CPU-Z, I seems to have 1x8GB DDR4 2666mhz RAM from Hyundai Electronics. No Idea about the Cas/timing of the RAM tho. The bios says nothing other than 8Gb.

The graphics card gets 100% usage but with afterburner overlay it only runs at 300-400mhz on the vega cores while the CPU cores hover around 50% usage. Is this normal as the Graphics should run at 1100mhz on amds site. I heard that there is a power bottleneck on the soc from a few google searces saying that 15w is not enough?

Would dual channel help with the graphics? Even a 10 fps boost will pretty much make a lot of games like GTA playable to my standards.

So you're correct in that the 2500U can be run as high as 25w, but unfortunately its based on the power system and cooling solution of the laptop. The particular model you have is very basic, likely why its run at the default 15w (giving better battery life) and single channel ram. Its possible it doesn't even have a second slot to run dual channel.

The x360 that I have has a metal casing thats part of the cooling solution (the Notebook you have is plastic) and has a second slot for dual channel, however as far as I know it has a different mainboard which runs the processor at a higher TDP and has that second slot. Looking at the power adapters alone the X360 has a 65w adapter, the Notebook has a 45w adapter, the Notebook also has longer battery life.

 

[EndlessZone123]

I’m almost sure I saw that it had 2 RAM slots somewhere. I’ll be looking for it but I might open the laptop to take a look. But the issue with that is i’m not so sure how to open it. Coulden’t find any guides as this laptop is probable very obscure.

 

[Rogue Leader]

I’m almost sure I saw that it had 2 RAM slots somewhere. I’ll be looking for it but I might open the laptop to take a look. But the issue with that is i’m not so sure how to open it. Coulden’t find any guides as this laptop is probable very obscure.

It could be glued which can be tricky.

Everything that i can find says it only has 1 slot but its too new to find a board or whatever for it. Also its listed as 2400mhz ram not 2666.

IF it has a second slot dual channel will help somewhat, but the processor being set to low TDP will always be an issue.

 

[InvalidError]

Its possible it doesn't even have a second slot to run dual channel.

Another possibility with penny-pinching manufacturers is that you do get two DIMMs but they're on the same channel. Spares the manufacturer the trouble of routing that 2nd channel to its own DIMM if it thinks it can get away with it.

 

[EndlessZone123]

Thanks you two for the help. Will take a look into the specifications of the laptop.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Its possible it doesn't even have a second slot to run dual channel.

Another possibility with penny-pinching manufacturers is that you do get two DIMMs but they're on the same channel. Spares the manufacturer the trouble of routing that 2nd channel to its own DIMM if it thinks it can get away with it.

Good point.

I do know of the first 3 Ryzen Laptops released only 1 had dual channel which was the Envy X360 (and hence why I bought that one). The other two, Dell and Lenovo, both were single slot and single channel. The Envy x360 is definitely a more "premium" laptop so I wouldn't be surprised if on a cheaper yet similarly specced model they did like you said.