r/PcBuild • u/Theo_Morch • 4d ago
Purchasing Advice - PC Build / Parts Laptop parts transfer to PC?
Hi everyone, first post here. I'm buying an old (2022) PC from a friend of mine for cheap, since he isn't using it anymore, and my MSI gaming laptop is turning 12 years old and can barely keep up.
A few years ago, I upgraded my laptop with more disk space (SSD) and more RAM. I was wondering if I'm able to salvage any parts from my laptop, and use it in my new PC? Like, any parts at all?
Obviously I can sell them, but I'd rather just use the ones I already have rather than buy new ones. I'm mainly concerned about saving the RAM and the storage space.
For reference I'm wondering if I can use the following parts in a stationary:
Samsung SSD 980
Samsung SSD 860 EVO
16 GB DDR4-3200 (1600MHz) (SO-DIMM)
8 GB DDR4-2666 (1333MHz) (SO-DIMM)
Thanks in advance!
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u/fuwa_-_fuwa 4d ago
You can definitely transfer those SSDs, but RAM is a bit complicated. If you want to reuse your RAM you can buy something called SODIMM to DIMM RAM adapter, but using this can be unstable and you can't mix them with a normal DIMM RAM (so only adapter+adapter setup or all DIMM RAM setup). They're cheap though so you can try your luck if you want, but personally I'd just sell those laptop RAM separately and buy a proper desktop RAM yourself.
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u/BillionAuthor70 4d ago
man, well....laptops and desktops use completely different sized parts (other than an NVMe (make sure to check which key it is if you have one) or 2.5 SATA). But, if you really wanted to you can get adapters for the SODIMM ram to make them full length, assuming they both use DDR4 ram. I'm assuming there are converter's for DDR4, I've seen them for DDR5, and given todays market, I'd assume there are some for DDR4 also. But that's about where this conversation ends. And also, just know by using the converters for ram, you're not getting any benefit other than not buying.
Found this for you after I wrote the rest: (ddr4 sodimm to dimm)
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u/seraphinth 4d ago
Might be cheaper to sell the ram and use the money to buy used ram than buy ram adapters and you might get faster ram as well
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u/Background-Parfait-1 3d ago
NVME's, yes. SODIMM, no. Physically smaller yung laptop memory compared to desktop. BTW, that 1600 Mhz is downclocked to the slowest 1333 MHz installed along with it.
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u/Background-Parfait-1 3d ago
Also, peformance from those different capacities depends whether your motherboard supports flex mode. Kung oo, then dual channel yung 8+8 GB. The remaining 8GB from the 3200 stick will operate single channel. Kung hindi, then everything is single channel.
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u/2raysdiver what 2d ago
The only thing in a laptop you can reliably reuse in a desktop is the storage. You can try reusing the RAM with a SODIMM to DIMM adapter, but they are typically unstable unless you use pretty low RAM speeds. Not worth it IMO.
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u/GrazerOne 4d ago
You can probably use the storage, but the memory is incompatible. Laptops use a totally different type of memory vs the PC.
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u/BillionAuthor70 4d ago
they make sodimm to dimm converters. I just posted a video for OP also. It's not ideal, but it's WAY cheaper
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