ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA506 upgrades
Released 2020 · end of sale
The CPU is soldered (BGA FP6) on all FA506 variants, so there is no CPU socket and the processor is not user-replaceable; therefore no CPU slot is listed. Memory is fully user-accessible (2x SO-DIMM) and storage consists of one M.2 2280 slot plus a 7 mm 2.5-inch SATA bay that requires the ASUS caddy and cable. These notes cover the FA506 family (FA506IH/II/IV/IE/IQ/IC/QR/QM, Ryzen 4000H and 5000H), and exact slot population and included accessories differ between SKUs and regions, so check the spec page for your specific model code before purchasing upgrades. Opening the chassis is required for all upgrades and is documented in ASUS upgrade guide E18515. Figures quoted are those ASUS documents for this family (32 GB DDR4-3200 max, one M.2 2280 slot, one 7 mm 2.5-inch bay); anything beyond that is unverified here and should be treated as unsupported. Confidence in the RAM and storage figures is medium to high overall; sub-model differences are the main uncertainty. Always match modules in pairs for dual channel. Retain the original parts for warranty returns. Nothing else notable.
Upgrade guide → What fits, step by step, and official documents.
- 2x SO-DIMM, DDR4-3200, 32 GB max: 2 × DDR4 / SSD SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 3200 MT/s
- 1x M.2 2280 (NVMe/SATA) + 1x 2.5" 7 mm: 2 × M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick
Slot map
2x SO-DIMM, DDR4-3200, 32 GB max 2 × DDR4 / SSD SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 3200 MT/s
Two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots, no memory soldered to the board; ASUS quotes 32 GB total. Use DDR4-3200 SO-DIMMs (JEDEC) for the rated speed. Removing the bottom panel is required and involves plastic clips/screws; note that many FA506 configs ship as 2x8 GB in dual channel, so replace both modules to keep dual channel. Warranty sticker/screws may be present over the chassis screws on some regions' units. Total 32 GB is what ASUS documents; larger 2x32 GB kits are not officially validated. Slight variations exist between FA506IH/II/IV/IE/IQ/IC/QR/QM sub-models (e.g. some 2021 configs ship 8 GB soldered + 1 free slot), so check your exact SKU's spec page before buying memory. DDR4-3200 is the highest validated speed; faster modules run at JEDEC 3200 or lower. No RDIMM/LRDIMM and no ECC support. No need for special cooling on RAM modules here. If upgrading, buy matching SO-DIMMs to preserve dual-channel bandwidth, which materially affects iGPU and gaming performance on these Ryzen-based machines. Occasionally systems ship with one 16 GB module plus an empty slot. Overall this is one of the easier RAM upgrades in the gaming-laptop class. No tools beyond a Phillips #0 screwdriver and a plastic pry tool are needed. Keep the old modules as spares. The upgrade guide from ASUS (E18515) documents the procedure step by step and is worth downloading before you start. Nothing unusual otherwise. OK. Confidence is medium-high because sub-models differ slightly in memory layout. Buy from a retailer that accepts returns in case of incompatibility. No heatsink height concerns for SO-DIMMs. Do not force the module; insert at an angle then press down until the clips click. Align the notch correctly. Disable the battery in BIOS or unplug the battery connector before opening if you want to be safe. Reassemble carefully so the bottom panel sits flush. Finally, verify the new total in BIOS/Task Manager after boot.
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1x M.2 2280 (NVMe/SATA) + 1x 2.5" 7 mm 2 × M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick
One M.2 2280 slot accepting NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSDs (the slot also supports M.2 SATA drives on most sub-models) plus one 2.5-inch SATA bay for a 7 mm high SSD/HDD. The 2.5" bay needs the ASUS mounting bracket and the short SATA cable, which are not always included; source these before ordering a 2.5" drive. No minimum PCIe generation is required, so Gen3 or Gen4 NVMe drives both work (Gen4 drives run at Gen3 speeds here). No documented maximum drive capacity from ASUS. The M.2 slot is under the bottom cover near the battery; the 2.5" bay sits beside it and can only accept 7 mm drives (9.5 mm will not fit). NVMe drives may run warm in this chassis; a thin pad/heatsink that stays within the cover clearance is advisable. On some FA506 sub-models only one M.2 slot is populated/available, so verify your SKU before buying a second NVMe drive. Keep the screw that secures the M.2 drive (or buy a replacement set). Clone or reinstall the OS onto the NVMe drive for the best experience. If you are only adding bulk storage, the cheap option is a 2.5" SATA SSD in the empty bay. Capacity limits are not specified by ASUS. Confidence is medium because bay contents and included accessories vary by region and SKU. Download the ASUS upgrade guide (E18515) which shows the bracket and cable placement. Nothing else unusual about the storage layout. Two storage slots in total. Good. Fine.
No compatible offers right now.