Acer Aspire 5 A515-56 Upgrade Guide: RAM, SSD and CPU

Updated Oct. 19, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

The Aspire 5 A515-56 (the 11th Gen Intel 'Tiger Lake' version, part numbers like A515-56-5xxx and A515-56-7xxx) is one of the friendlier laptops to upgrade. Under the bottom panel you get one free RAM slot, an M.2 NVMe slot and a 2.5-inch drive bay. The processor is soldered down and cannot be upgraded. Here is what fits, what the limits are and what to watch out for.

At a glance

  • RAM: 1x SO-DIMM DDR4 slot plus soldered memory; 20 GB or 24 GB max total depending on your variant.
  • Storage: M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4) plus a 2.5-inch SATA bay for drives up to 7 mm thick.
  • CPU: soldered Tiger Lake-U chip - no upgrade path.
1x SO-DIMM DDR4 slot (plus soldered RAM)DDR4 SO-DIMM · 4 GB soldered · up to 24 GB total · 3200 MT/s
M.2 2280 NVMe + 2.5" SATA (7 mm) bays2 × SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick
1 × SO-DIMM · DDR4up to 24 GB totalM.2 2280 NVMe + 2.5" SATA (7 mm) bays2 × SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

No new BIOS, firmware or driver releases are planned, so a newer CPU may not be recognised.

20202021202220232024202520262027Today11 · Release · October 202022 · EOL · April 2024
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 October 2020 Estimate Date stated by an Acer Community moderator and corroborated by the Acer-authored user's manual dated 2020-08; Acer publishes no official announce/withdrawal page for Aspire consumer notebooks, so this is not a manufacturer lifecycle publication.
Source ↗
End of life (EOL)
The manufacturer stops developing the product: no new BIOS, firmware or driver releases.		 April 2024 Estimate Last BIOS release (CVE-2023-40238 fix) per Acer Community staff; no BIOS/firmware since, and the model is absent from Acer's June 2026 Secure Boot KEK-certificate supported-model list. Development cessation is inferred from these facts, not declared on an Acer lifecycle page.
Source ↗

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

RAM upgrade

Your laptop has one free SO-DIMM slot alongside memory that is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be removed. On most A515-56 models there is 4 GB soldered, giving a maximum total of 20 GB with a 16 GB module; on some variants there is 8 GB soldered, giving 24 GB total. Check your exact model number before buying, because this determines your ceiling.

Buying tips

  • Buy a single module, not a kit - there is only one free slot.
  • Choose a 16 GB DDR4-3200 CL22 1.2 V non-ECC SO-DIMM (PC4-25600).
  • Avoid modules with unusual CAS latencies; CL22 is the safe choice and odd timings may fail to start.
  • Don't be put off by spec sheets that say '8 GB maximum' - that is the factory configuration of that SKU, not the hardware limit.

Storage upgrade

There are two storage options. The M.2 slot takes 2280 NVMe drives and runs at PCIe Gen3 x4 - a Gen4 drive will work but will only run at Gen3 speed. Kingston specifies single-sided 2280 modules, so a double-sided high-capacity drive may not fit. The second bay takes a standard 2.5-inch SATA drive (SSD or hard drive) up to 7 mm thick; 9.5 mm drives will not fit. Users confirm 2 TB SATA SSDs and 1 TB-plus NVMe drives work, but there is no documented official capacity ceiling for either bay.

Buying tips

  • For the M.2 slot, a mainstream Gen3-class NVMe drive (for example WD SN770, Samsung 970 EVO Plus or SK Hynix BC711) is a proven fit.
  • For the 2.5-inch bay, pick a 7 mm drive only.
  • The SATA cable and mounting frame are normally already inside the laptop, but some regional bundles omit them - open the case and check before you buy a SATA drive.
  • This model has no memory card reader, so camera cards need a USB reader.

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up your data first, especially if you are cloning or replacing a drive.
  • Shut the laptop down fully and unplug the charger.
  • Ground yourself (touch a metal object) so static doesn't damage the parts.
  • Open the case: all the slots sit behind the bottom panel, held by Phillips screws and plastic clips. Work the clips gently with a plastic tool.
  • Install the new part, then close the panel.
  • Power on and check that the BIOS/firmware recognises the new memory or drive, and that the capacity looks right.
  • Acer does not publish a public service manual for this model, so use the owner's manual for exact disassembly guidance and take care with the plastic clips.

Steps

  1. Back up your data
    Copy anything important before you open the laptop, especially if a drive is being replaced or cloned.
  2. Power off and unplug
    Shut the system down completely and disconnect the charger and any cables.
  3. Ground yourself
    Discharge static by touching a grounded metal object before handling components.
  4. Open the case
    Remove the Phillips screws from the bottom panel and release the plastic clips. The RAM slot, M.2 slot and 2.5-inch bay are all behind this one panel.
  5. Install the part
    Fit the module or drive in its slot and secure it. For the 2.5-inch bay, use the existing mounting frame and SATA cable if present.
  6. Close the case
    Refit the bottom panel and screws.
  7. Check the BIOS/firmware
    Boot into the BIOS and confirm the new RAM or drive is detected at the expected capacity.

Good to know

  • RAM: '2 slots / 32 GB' claims for this model are wrong and describe older Aspire 5 generations (A515-54/A515-57).
  • RAM: Acer's own SKU sheets listing 8 GB maximum reflect factory configurations, not the hardware limit - 16 GB modules are confirmed working.
  • RAM: module speed depends on the CPU - DDR4-3200 is the right spec, but slower chips (such as the Pentium Gold 7505) downclock it to 2666.
  • Storage: there is no documented official maximum capacity for either drive bay; large drives are expected to work but are not formally listed.
  • Disassembly: Acer publishes no public service manual for the A515-56, so use the owner's manual and take care with the bottom panel's plastic clips.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56 take?

20 GB total on models with 4 GB soldered (4 GB + one 16 GB module), or 24 GB on variants with 8 GB soldered. Acer's spec sheets listing 8 GB maximum only describe the factory configuration of that SKU. There is one free SO-DIMM slot, so buy a single module.

Does the A515-56 have two RAM slots?

No. It has one SO-DIMM slot plus soldered memory. Some listings claiming two slots and 32 GB actually describe older Aspire 5 models (A515-54/A515-57).

Can you upgrade the CPU in the A515-56?

No. The Tiger Lake-U processor (Pentium Gold 7505, i3-1115G4, i5-1135G7 or i7-1165G7) is soldered to the motherboard and is not socketed, so it cannot be replaced or upgraded.

Does the A515-56 support NVMe SSDs?

Yes. There is an M.2 2280 NVMe slot running at PCIe Gen3 x4. Gen4 drives work but run at Gen3 speeds. Kingston specifies single-sided 2280 modules, so very thick double-sided drives may not fit.

Can I add a second drive to the A515-56?

Yes, there is a 2.5-inch SATA bay for drives up to 7 mm thick alongside the M.2 slot. Just check that your unit includes the SATA cable and mounting frame - some regional bundles omit them.

Does the A515-56 have an SD card reader?

No. Acer's spec sheets for this generation list no memory card reader, so you will need a USB reader for camera cards.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.