ComputerCompatibility exists to answer two questions reliably: can I upgrade this, and which part will work? Here’s how our editorial team gets to an answer we’re willing to publish.
1. We start from manufacturer specifications
Official spec sheets, service manuals, and maintenance guides come first. Retailer listings and marketplace titles are treated as leads to verify, not facts — they routinely list the wrong memory type or SSD interface.
2. We work from the standards that govern fit
Compatibility comes down to measurable things: memory type and speed (DDR4 / DDR5 / LPDDR5), maximum capacity and number of slots, whether memory is socketed (SO-DIMM) or soldered; SSD form factor (e.g. M.2 2280 / 2242), interface (NVMe PCIe vs SATA) and keying; charger wattage, voltage and connector. We work from those, not the marketing.
3. We’re honest about what can’t be upgraded
Many modern machines have soldered memory, non-replaceable storage, or locked platforms. We say so clearly. Telling you a machine can’t be upgraded is just as valuable as telling you it can — and it stops you wasting money.
4. We tell you to confirm by exact model
The same family can have very different internals across configurations and years. We point you to your exact model number and service tag/serial rather than implying “all versions are the same.”
5. We flag uncertainty instead of guessing
If we can’t confirm a detail against a reliable source, the guide states that plainly rather than presenting a guess as fact.
6. We keep it current
Models and firmware support change. We re-verify our guides on a regular cycle and date-stamp every page with when the data was last checked.
7. Our recommendations and affiliate links
Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes which part we recommend. Picks are based on confirmed compatibility and fitness for the job; the reasoning is always shown.
This page is for general information only. Specifications differ between configurations and revisions of the same model — always confirm against the manufacturer’s specification for your exact model and service tag before buying or installing a part. Found an error? Contact us.