Is Asus VivoBook X515JA Upgradable?

If you own an Asus VivoBook X515JA laptop and you are looking to improve its performance, upgrading some of its components could be a great option. Fortunately, this laptop is upgradeable and serviceable, so you can open it up and replace or upgrade certain parts.

However, it’s important to note that not all parts can be upgraded as many of them are soldered to the motherboard, and attempting to upgrade them could damage your laptop. To help you out, we’ll go over what parts you can upgrade on your Asus VivoBook X515JA, how to do it, and which ones you should avoid.

Is Asus VivoBook X515JA upgradable?

Yes, the Asus VivoBook X515JA laptop is upgradeable! Thanks to the fact that the motherboard is not soldered, you can open up the laptop and access the compact inner mechanism. The RAM is usually the only component that is soldered to the motherboard, but on the Asus VivoBook X515JA, you can replace one of the RAMs with a larger one for an upgrade. 

Also, if you have a hybrid dual-channel system, both your mechanical hard drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD) can be upgraded as they are not soldered to the motherboard. Unfortunately, the CPU is soldered to the motherboard and is not upgradeable. With all these upgrades available, it’s easy to customize your laptop to fit your needs!

So, What can I upgrade on my Laptop? 

The most common things that can be upgraded on your Asus VivoBook X515JA are the storage drives and the RAM. Apart from that, it is very difficult to upgrade anything else on your Asus VivoBook X515JA or even any other laptop. 

Can I upgrade the RAM on my Asus VivoBook X515JA?

It is possible to upgrade the RAM on your Asus VivoBook X515JA because it is not soldered to the motherboard. However, as I had previously mentioned, the VivoBook X515JA uses a hybrid method where one part of the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, and the other is not. To upgrade the RAM on your Asus VivoBook X515JA, all you will need is a Torx brand screwdriver set and a prying tool like a guitar pick.

How to Upgrade the RAM on Your Asus VivoBook X515JA?

Upgrading the RAM on your Asus VivoBook X515JA is a simple process. The first step is to remove the bottom case of the laptop by unscrewing the seven screws beneath with a Philips-head screwdriver. There is one screw, however, that must be removed with a Torx 8H screwdriver. After that, carefully pry your VivoBook X515JA’s cover away from the clips that hold it together.

You should now be able to see the entire insides of your laptop. With your Philips head screwdriver, remove all of the screws that are connected to the battery. As a result, the battery can be removed by pulling it straight out. Then, press the power button a few times to discharge the capacitors.

The RAM modules’ thermal transfer shield must then be removed by simply pulling it up, which should be simple. After that, your RAM sticks should be in a single-channel configuration. This is because, while you may have two sets of RAM sticks, one is soldered to the motherboard and the other is removable. So, depending on your RAM configuration, you should see two 8GB sticks of RAM for 16 GB or two 4GB sticks of RAM for 8 GB.

When you slide the single clip holding the RAM stick out, it should automatically pop out. Then, carefully remove your RAM from the chamber and place it somewhere safe. A quick reminder: If you handle the RAM carelessly or touch it or its golden connections, it may be damaged. Make sure you’re holding the RAM at the very edge.

The final step is to take the new RAM, insert it into the slot, and gently press it until you hear a click. Make sure you know how many RAM channels your computer has so you don’t have to buy more RAM, as some laptops, like this one, only have one. After installing your new RAM, all you have to do is screw everything back together with your Torx and Philips-head screwdrivers.

Can I Upgrade the HDDs and SSDs on my Asus VivoBook X515JA?

It is possible to upgrade the SSDs and HDDs on your Asus VivoBook X515JA. As I had previously stated, some models of the VivoBook X515JA all come with a hard drive, while some come with both a hard drive and an SSD. Upgrading the SSDs and HDDs on your Asus VivoBook is a very simple process, and all you will need are a set of screwdrivers and a prying tool; a guitar pick would also suffice.

How to Install a New SSD onto Your Asus VivoBook X515JA?

Upgrading or replacing the SSD on your Asus VivoBook X515JA is a simple process; all you need is a screwdriver. Unscrew all of the bolts at the bottom of your laptop using a Torx 8H screwdriver set. However, before removing your hard drives or SDD, make a backup of all of your files to an external hard disc.

The bottom of the laptop has three sets of screws. Short ones are at the bottom, followed by medium-length ones in the middle, and lengthy ones at the top. The bottom of your Asus VivoBook X515JA can be removed using a prying tool or a guitar pick after all the screws have been removed. You should then be able to see the full interior of your laptop after that.

At first glance, your SSD should be visible at the top of the motherboard, just above the system fan. Then your mechanical HDD should be right next to the laptop’s main battery.

Next, pry out each of the screws holding the batteries in place with your Philips-head screwdriver. The battery can therefore be taken out simply by pulling it straight out. After that, try repeatedly pressing the power button to let the capacitors discharge.

The SSD can then be removed after the battery has been taken out by unscrewing a little bolt in front of it; it should then pop up at a 45-degree angle. From there, you can simply slide it out and insert your new SSD at a 45-degree angle by carefully pushing it in. After that, simply press it down and tighten the bolt that was holding your SSD in place.

How to Upgrade Your HDD to an SSD on the Asus VivoBook X515JA?

It’s incredibly easy to convert your Asus VivoBook X515JA’s HDD to an SSD. You must take off the mechanical HDD drive, which is close to your battery, to increase the storage capacity. The first step is to remove your HDD by removing it from the rubber caddy. Next, you must release the flex cable by lifting the jack at a 90-degree angle and slowly withdrawing the flex cable from the jack.

Once the HDD has been removed, you must first cut the aluminium tape covering the adapter, after which you must pull the adapter backwards and carefully remove it from the HDD. After that, you must peel away the rubber caddy that is holding the hard drive.

After taking your old hard drive out of the rubber caddy, you can either insert a new hard drive, an SSD, or a larger HDD in the caddy in the same orientation as the old one, and then you can mount your adapter on top of it. Place it in the hard drive slot, after which you should attach your flex cable to the jack.

To insert your flex cable into the jack, first slide it in at a 45-degree angle and then gently push it into the jack. After that, all you have to do is put everything back together the way it was, close your laptop, and lock in your bottom screws before reinstalling Windows. That’s how to replace the SSD in your Asus VivoBook X515JA laptop.

Can I change the processor in my Asus VivoBook?

Unfortunately, it is frequently impossible to remove the CPU from a laptop without seriously harming the system. It could occasionally be necessary to have the technical knowledge to safely remove the motherboard. Generally speaking, trying this without the necessary experience is not advised. While the Asus VivoBook X515JA does not feature a removable CPU, other laptops do; however, those models are highly expensive.

What is a Motherboard?

A motherboard is a fundamental component of a computer system. It is the largest circuit board located in the computer chassis and serves as the foundation for all the computer’s hardware components.

The motherboard has several key functions, including distributing power to various hardware components and enabling communication between the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), and other peripherals. Essentially, it acts as the communication hub for all the computer’s hardware, allowing them to work together seamlessly.

An Overview of the Motherboard

Connectivity between a computer’s hardware parts, such as the CPU, RAM, hard drive, and visual card, is provided by the motherboard. Numerous motherboard varieties are made to fit various sizes and types of computers. There are different types of motherboards, and because of this, not every CPU and memory type is compatible with every motherboard. However, regardless of type or brand, most motherboards can accommodate hard drives, which are generally universal.

Where can I Find the Motherboard on a Computer?

A computer motherboard is located inside the computer case and connects the majority of the computer parts and peripherals. The motherboard, which is the largest circuit board in a tower computer, is located on the left or right side of the tower.

Conclusion 

Upgrading your Asus VivoBook X515JA is a straightforward process and should be something that anyone can do. However, do remember that not everything on your motherboard can be replaced or upgraded, so be careful with what you try to change when upgrading your laptop.

Please remember that to gain access to the internals, simply remove a few Philips screws and use a prying tool to release the clips on the bottom panel. Even though the RAM is user-replaceable, you can only use a single-channel configuration because there is only one memory slot. 

The mounting cord is not included, but there is room for a 2.5-inch storage drive. As a result, I do not believe it is upgradeable. However, the M.2 NVMe SSD can be replaced. Thank you so much for reading this article. Please feel free to drop any questions you might have in the comment section.

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