IdeaPad Gaming 3 Upgrade (Full Specs)

Updated: 11/01/2022

Upgrade the RAM and SSD drive in your Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop plus check out the specifications of the laptop.

Yes, upgrading the IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop including part numbers and instructions is in this article, plus specs.

How To Upgrade RAM And SSD On Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 Laptop

And if you want to see my review and the specs for the new IdeaPad Gaming 3 Gen 6, check out my article: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Specs, Review, Tech Info

How To Upgrade RAM In IdeaPad Gaming 3 Laptop

Upgrade the memory in your IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop with DIMM modules in the two RAM slots or add a larger memory module. The RAM is located behind a cover meant to help dissipate heat and is on the center-right of the board. Remember to disconnect the battery first just as a precaution.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 max RAM is 32GB via 2 DIMM slots, which are DDR4 Dual-Channel capable slots.

IdeaPad Gaming 3 Model	RAM Type
15IMH05 (81Y4,82CG)	DDR4-2933 -(Buy DDR4-3200) Two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, dual-channel capable
15ARH05, 15ACH6, 15IHU6	DDR4-3200 Two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, dual-channel capable

RAM Upgrade Steps:

1. Make sure the IdeaPad Gaming 3 is turned off and disconnect the A/C adapter.
2. Close the laptop display and turn the IdeaPad over.
3. Remove the 10 screws that secure the back panel in place.
4. Carefully pry up the latches holding the cover in place and remove the back panel. (See diagram)
5. The memory modules are in the center-right of the board and are covered with shielding.
6. Remove the heat shielding and the current RAM module.
7. Insert your new RAM module(s) and replace the cover.

Note: Insert the notched end of the memory DIMM into the socket. Press the DIMM in firmly and pivot it down until it snaps into place. Make sure the DIMM is installed firmly in place.

Crucial RAM 16GB DDR4 3200MHz CL22 RAM:

Enter IdeaPad Gaming 3 EUFI/BIOS:
Verify the correct amount of installed RAM by turning on the laptop and pressing F2 repeatedly. This takes you into the UEFI/BIOS and displays installed memory.

Related Article: Does A NVMe SSD Make A Difference? |Lenovo Laptop Drive

How To Upgrade SSD In IdeaPad Gaming 3 Laptop

Upgrading the SSD drive in an IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop is done by removing the back cover and locating the three potential drive locations. Three drive options can be installed in the IdeaPad Gaming 3, a 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD, an M.2 2242, and an M.2 2280.

The new IdeaPad Gaming 3 Gen 6 models have an improved cooling system and fans, and therefore look different than the picture above. However, the upgrade procedure remains the same.

The two M.2 slots are: PCIe NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x4
The 2.5″ SATA slot is: SATA 6Gb/s

SSD Upgrade:

Follow these steps to upgrade the SSD drive in your IdeaPad Gaming 3. Best practice is to disconnect the internal battery prior to removing or replacing any component.

1. Make sure the IdeaPad Gaming 3 is turned off and disconnect the A/C adapter.
2. Close the display and turn over the laptop.
3. Remove the 10 screws that secure the back panel in place.
4. Carefully pry up the latches holding the cover in place and remove the back panel. (See diagram above)
5. All three drive locations are on the lower left of the board, just above the battery. (See diagram)
6. Unscrew the existing drive and add your replacement. You can add an M.2 2242 or M.2 2280 in either slot and either an SDD or HDD in the 2.5″ slot.

Note: Remove the M.2 2242 drive and also remove its standoff to add an M.2 2280 drive in its place.

Officially only two drives can be installed at the same time on the IdeaPad Gaming 3 because adding a second M.2 2280 drive physically interferes with the 2.5″ SATA drive. That is, if you add a second M.2 2280 drive it will project over any existing 2.5″ drive, so this is not recommended or supported by Lenovo. Users have done this anyway by adding some padding for the protection of the drive.

Keep something in mind: if you do replace your drive, either clone your current drive or re-install the operating system and all your data and programs. Many drives come with software to help you clone your computer.

I listed some compatible RAM and SSD drives below. These are Amazon affiliate links in which I get paid a commission if a purchase is made. The RAM is all CL-22 and unbuffered 3200MHZ.

SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus SSD 2TB – M.2 NVMe:

Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM Laptop Gaming Memory Kit 32GB:

Change IdeaPad Gaming 3 From HDD To SSD

Yes, you can replace the standard 2.5″ HDD in an IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop with an SSD drive. The current HDD is SATA and so will be your replacement. You should already have the HDD drive ribbon cable so all you need to do is swap the drives.

If you are installing a new SSD drive into the 2.5″ slot and don’t have the drive ribbon cable, order the following part number:

IdeaPad Gaming 3 HDD cable (L 81Y4 HDD/B) part number: 5C10S30065

Check out my article on ordering Lenovo parts: How To Find Lenovo Parts (2 options)

Looking for a VR headset? Read my article: Oculus Quest 2 | Specs And Tech Info

Does Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 have WiFi 6?

Most, but not all, IdeaPad Gaming 3 models do have WiFi 6 or 802.11ax 2×2 as it was known. I compared model types and it looks like only the 15ARH05 (82EY) has the WiFi 5 or 802.11ac 2×2 card installed, at least in the U.S.

The WiFi 6 card for the IdeaPad is listed on Lenovo’s website as part number: 01AX798 (Wl Bt 802.11Abgnacax Ax201.ngwg.nv)

Note: 802.11ac 2×2 WiFi only works on the 5GHZ band. 802.11ax 2×2 WiFi works on the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands with single-stream speeds of 3.5Gbps.

Download new WiFi drivers for your IdeaPad laptop from Lenovo Support.

IdeaPad Gaming 3 Thermal Performance?

The IdeaPad laptop is installed with Lenovo Vantage software that allows you to choose your desired thermal mode. The options are Performance mode, Balanced mode, and Quiet mode.

Use balanced mode for normal day-to-day usage of the laptop. Performance mode is for heavy use such as playing games. It will be louder as the fans run at high speeds.

IdeaPad Gaming 3 Model 15IMH05 Specifications

I created a table with some of the popular Gaming 3 model 15IMH05 types and their specifications for your reference. Note that these laptops have 120HZ, FHD (1920×1080) displays.

Model	Processor	Graphics	Memory	SSD Drive
82K100LWCC	Intel Core i7-11370H (4C / 8T, 3.3 / 4.8GHz, 12MB)	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6	2x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
82K100RKUS	Intel Core i7-11370H (4C / 8T, 3.3 / 4.8GHz, 12MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe
81Y40007UK	Intel Core i5-10300H (4C / 8T, 2.5 / 4.5GHz, 8MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	2x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
81Y4000GUK	Intel Core i5-10300H (4C / 8T, 2.5 / 4.5GHz, 8MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	2x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
81Y4001FUS	Intel Core i5-10300H (4C / 8T, 2.5 / 4.5GHz, 8MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe
81Y4001JUS	Intel Core i5-10300H (4C / 8T, 2.5 / 4.5GHz, 8MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe
81Y4001GUS	Intel Core i7-10750H (6C / 12T, 2.6 / 5.0GHz, 12MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
81Y4001HUS	Intel Core i7-10750H (6C / 12T, 2.6 / 5.0GHz, 12MB)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe

IdeaPad Gaming 3 Model 15ARH05 Specifications

The table below lists some popular IdeaPad Gaming 3 model 15ARH05 models and their configurations.

Model	Processor	Graphics	Memory	SSD Drive
82K200UYUS	AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (8C / 16T, 3.2 / 4.4GHz, 4MB L2 / 16MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6, Boost Clock 1500 / 1635MHz, TGP 85W	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
82EY0027US	AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (6C / 12T, 3.0 / 4.0GHz, 3MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
82EY0028US	AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (6C / 12T, 3.0 / 4.0GHz, 3MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
82EY0029US	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (8C / 16T, 2.9 / 4.2GHz, 4MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
82EY002AUS	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (8C / 16T, 2.9 / 4.2GHz, 4MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5″
82EY002BUS	AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (6C / 12T, 3.0 / 4.0GHz, 3MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe
82EY006YUS	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (8C / 16T, 2.9 / 4.2GHz, 4MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe
82EY00FDUS	AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (6C / 12T, 3.0 / 4.0GHz, 3MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe
82EY009XRM	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (8C / 16T, 2.9 / 4.2GHz, 4MB L2 / 8MB L3)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200	512GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe

Summary

This article was all about upgrading your IdeaPad laptop with more RAM and a larger SSD drive. Also included were information on the WiFi adapter in the laptop and some common popular model configurations. Don’t miss the part numbers included for the components as well. Anyone can upgrade their Lenovo laptop to improve its performance for everyday use or gaming.

Check out some accessories below:

These monitors are on the Lenovo website as part of their gaming accessories. Check them out through my affiliate link if you need a new monitor.