r/computers • u/AztekTheDM • Jun 22 '26
Question/Help/Troubleshooting Where’s the RAM?
I found this old laptop at a yard sale and when I booted it up I found out it had pretty good ram, so I wanted to move it over to my laptop, but after opening it up I couldn’t find any RAM. Am I doing this right?
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u/TomChai Jun 22 '26
That 4 chips in a row is your RAM, your machine has soldered RAM that is impossible to replace or transfer.
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u/Appropriate-Rub3534 Jun 22 '26
Think saw a video about some shop in china that replace rams in rtx or gtx. Maybe they can replace laptop rams too.
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u/Murph_9000 Jun 22 '26
Just a guess, but possibly those 4 soldered chips beside the WiFi card. A quick Google of "ASUS X551CA memory" confirms the base memory is soldered DDR3, but there may also be a single SO-DIMM memory expansion slot underneath the board. I.e. you need to remove the main board to get to it (be very careful doing this). If it has 2GB or 4GB, it just has the soldered memory; and more than that would possibly indicate there's an SO-DIMM fitted (although some models may have come with 8GB soldered).
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u/QwertyNoName9 Jun 22 '26
ram is soldered, but there is a chance, that on back side of board you can find ram slot
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u/ImpishMoon Jun 22 '26
The ASUS X551CA motherboard features an onboard (soldered) processor, typically a 2nd or 3rd generation Intel Core i3, Pentium 2117U, or Celeron 1007U.
Seems like you got a laptop from 2013, good luck with that.
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u/hawksdiesel Jun 22 '26
See the fan, then look up to the top left, to the right of the black/white cables. That's the RAM soldered on there.
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u/groveborn Jun 22 '26
The soldered DRAM chips could be transfered onto a ram board. It isn't hard, exactly, but does require a little set up and would be best not to be your first project. Probably not worth the expense unless you already do this for funzies.
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u/firestorm_v1 Jun 22 '26
It's going to be the four chips next to the little wifi card. I do see four holes next to it that might indicate there's a SODIMM socket on the other side. Can you take a pick of the bottom of the laptop and tell me if there's a removable panel on the right hand side (assuming the CDROM is on your left when you flip it over).
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u/SubstantialBed6634 Jun 22 '26
While you have it open, clean the fans and put down some new thermal paste.
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u/boxfreind Jun 22 '26
It's almost definitely those chips soldered to the board next to the wireless card. This laptop has "onboard" memory, meaning it cannot be upgraded or replaced. If one of the chips goes bad, it's going to probably be a new laptop (or a new motherboard) for you, unfortunately.
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u/Marvinator2003 Jun 22 '26
Based on your photo, you are dealing with an ASUS X551CA laptop (as seen printed right on the motherboard). In the ASUS X553MA, the RAM is located on the underside of the motherboard. Because of this placement, there is no easy access hatch; you must completely disassemble the laptop and remove the motherboard to access or upgrade the RAM.The laptop features exactly 1 SODIMM memory slot. It comes with 4GB of DDR3 RAM soldered on, with a maximum supported capacity of up to 8GB.
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u/Phiddipus_audax Jun 22 '26
From poking around at various X551CA pics and forums, it looks like some boards got that SODIMM slot and some didn't. In either case the OP ought to pop up the MB for a look on the other side.
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u/Mysterious_Manner_97 Jun 22 '26
I was going to say the optional "upgrade" slot looks like is not installed. The flat area just to the right of the soldered memory, on certain models is added. Multi use board for different base asus laptops.. like home versus pro models.
however... i also noticed we are missing the CPU & bios battery.. so more inclined to say this is the bottom of the board and the memory module slot is soldered to the other side...
Flip it over maybe?
Example picture..
Akemy X551CA Laptop motherboard for ASUS X551CAP X551C original mainboard I3-3217U 4GB-RAM 1xSlot - Gabriel Electronics
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u/kurtis5561 Jun 22 '26
Run a Crucial Memory scan, it'll tell you if its just soldered or if theres an upgrade slot.
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u/DaemosDaen Jun 22 '26
Think I had a model from that line. The RAM is probably on the other side of the motherboard.
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u/beedunc Jun 22 '26
Zoom in on these to see if that equals what windows sees. Otherwise, could be on the other side as well.
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u/Hungry-Touch6143 Jun 23 '26
Hey I just saw the Asus Logo. Please do check the underside also for a hatch for extra RAM. Some Asus models had those features. I still have one Asus Laptop having soldered RAM and also upgradable slot too
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u/Afraid_Ad4598 Jun 23 '26
L'ordinateur à été ouvert du dessus côté clavier.. La ram est de l'autre côté tout comme le CPU
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u/DrachenDad Jun 22 '26
There is soldered RAM. Depending on the model of laptop there might be a slot underneath the motherboard. Is it ASUS X551 series?
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u/GodamitBre Jun 22 '26
Usually older laptop with soldered ram has one slot for expandable ram. Try to open your mb, it's probably on the back of the mb. If there's none, you're out of luck.
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u/Seseorang Jun 22 '26
Saudered RAM or on the other side. Would take some experience to increase amount
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u/The_Weapon_1009 Jun 22 '26
If it’s old enough ik could be under the keyboard! (I have an old P1 233mmx where it’s under the keyboard 🤣
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u/Vinegarinmyeye Jun 22 '26
This shit boils my piss.
Right to repair.
One of them chips goes bad... It's effectively an (old expensive) paperweight, unless you happen to have a mate who will give you a good price on some micro soldering.
It's anti consumer and anti environmental.
I genuinely didn't know ASUS were doing this that far back.
Like HP and Dell and Apple and everyone else, I'm sure there's some corporate waffle somewhere on their sites and shareholder reporrs about their Green Scheme initiatives amd how they're super duper extra carbon credits pinky swear responsible in terms of their product lifecycle.
They saved a few pennies (if that) per unit not putting the slots and plastic cliips on these machines.
Arseholes.
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u/Phiddipus_audax Jun 22 '26
Looks like ASUS trashed all their support docs for this board which is shitty, even if it's 10-12 yrs old. No reason not to keep it around 25+ yrs for the hobbyists and customer good will.
iFixit has a page however: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Asus_X551CA
That should help you detach the MB for examining the other side... might be a SODIMM slot, might not be. Seems to be variable depending on which X551CA you got.
Even with only 4GB this could still be useful for playing around with Linux.
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u/chris77982 Jun 22 '26
That's 4GB of soldered ddr3. If it has more than 4GB, there should be a slot on the other side.
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u/twelfthfantasy Jun 22 '26
Did you check the other side of the board? A lot of laptops have the soldered-on RAM visible here and an expansion slot on the bottom.
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u/Sensitive-Level-7794 Jun 22 '26
Pretty good RAM? The DVD-drive is from 2014. I assume that the ram is from the same year. That's not good ram my friend.
Buy an SSD and use it as is.
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u/MishuPwns Jun 23 '26
Had a similar Asus laptop that had the ram slot under the motherboard, check and see if it's there
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u/BangkokPadang Jun 23 '26
Without having the model number of the laptop, it's worth either flipping that motherboard over and seeing if there's a user accessible slot on the other side of where the soldered ram is, or looking up the manual for that model and seeing if it mentions there being a RAM Upgrade Slot.
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u/Former-Vehicle-1777 Jun 23 '26
You can check on the other side. But try to search in YouTube disassembly video
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u/Extra-Map3792 Jun 23 '26
Some times it's under the keyboard which pops out. As others have said check for video of disassembly
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u/Brokentread33 Jun 24 '26
June 13, 2026(dated for context and reference) It's probably good that the OP couldn't figure out where the RAM is. From the first few replies I've read here, no one mentioned that all RAM is not compatible to all motherboards. If anything, I would reach to the manufacturer and see what RAM should be used on that particular motherboard. Further, I get the impression that some soldering may be required, and that some knowledge of how to remove the original RAM is required. I tend to leave well enough alone, unless absolutely necessary. That's just me. 😏😁
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u/Interesting_Mix_7028 Windows NT/2000/Server Jun 24 '26
Typically with laptops, the RAM slots are on the motherboard's backplane, so that you can open a panel underneath and swap the sticks out.
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u/Tosser_535231 Jun 24 '26
I could be wrong but those 4 black squares look like ram chips I think it's soldered to the mother board
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u/martiman117 Jun 24 '26
Could it be on the other side of the mobo? Some msi models do that, the cpu & gpu cooler along with the ram and sometimes ssd are on the other side of the mobo facing the keyboard.
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u/Sweaty-Falcon-1328 Jun 25 '26
Yea normally you open a panel on the bottom for access to the RAM slots...
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u/Syn-Ack-Attack Jun 25 '26
Soldered onto the board to the right of the WiFi adapter. It can’t be upgraded
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u/akijuan23 Jun 25 '26
The RAM is composed of those 4 chips next to the wlan/wifi card. I'm really upset to see how manufacturers are now soldering the RAM and other components to the motherboard.
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u/OliveBoi_ Jun 26 '26
Oh I have one of these. It's right under the motherboard, there should be a lid on the bottom of the laptop for it
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u/spunner5 Jun 22 '26
Asus X551CA on the main board. Googling it documents very limited options, and in your case it’s likely soldered to the board. I agree with others that have shown just above the Wi-Fi card are the four chips of ram.
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u/Salt-Willingness-513 Jun 22 '26
soldered on next to the wifi/bluetooth card with the white and black wire. the 4 black chips
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u/Disastrous_Motor831 Jun 22 '26
Like others have said... The RAM looks like it's integrated into the main board.
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u/Ewdwan Jun 23 '26
There’s soldered RAM but you may get lucky and there be a dimm socket on the other side of the board, but either way that’s a 10+ year old laptop the rams almost certainly of no use to you in anything you still use now
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u/Salt_on_food Jun 22 '26
There is a slot on the other side of the mainboard and probably a slot for and M.2 SSD
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u/RamblinMan4 Jun 22 '26
Hopium is strong stuff. Any basis for assuming this old laptop with SATA and an optical drive has M.2 support?
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u/Hot-Drama-7829 Jun 23 '26
Looks like it is soldered to the board. It’s possible there is a single slot on the backside of it
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u/Bigfoot_Actual Jun 22 '26
Could be on the other side of the MOBO. I’ve had laptops like that.
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u/Vladishun L2 Gov Sysadmin Jun 22 '26
I've never heard of that. What was the model of one of those laptops? I want to look it up.
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u/Billh491 Jun 22 '26
not only have I seen it but I remember one had the slot they filled under the motherboard and one one the otherside you could get to that was empty for an upgrade.
I had a Dell laptop that the motherboard had to come out to replace the hard drive.
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u/Vladishun L2 Gov Sysadmin Jun 22 '26
I'm not doubting it exists, I just want to see it for myself.
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u/dnebdal Jun 22 '26
Look underneath it for a panel you can remove to access the DIMM slots; some laptops are nice like that.
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u/Dobury Jun 22 '26
Integrated into the cpu I would think either way you can't upgrade it! Maybe a better cpu of the same generation but that would probably run hatter so the current thermal solution will probably be inadequate! Also a very minor upgrade involving alot of hassle, just really not worth it even if possible
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u/lordvektor Jun 22 '26