Dell Latitude 5400 upgrade guide: RAM, storage and CPU
Updated Oct. 20, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications
This guide covers the Dell Latitude 5400 14-inch laptop with 8th Gen Intel Whiskey Lake processors (Core i3-8145U, i5-8250U, i5-8265U, i5-8365U and i7-8665U). Two things in this laptop are worth upgrading: the memory and the storage. The processor is not one of them. Before any upgrade, back up anything you care about, then shut the laptop down fully and unplug the charger and any cables or docks. Ground yourself so you do not static-shock the parts. Both the memory slots and the storage bay sit under the bottom cover, so you will need to open the case. Dell's owner's manual for the Latitude 5400 has the exact disassembly steps and screw locations for your unit - follow it rather than a generic video. A safe general outline works for both upgrades: back up, power off and unplug, ground yourself, open the bottom cover, install the new part, close the case, then power on and check that the BIOS and your operating system see the new memory or drive.
At a glance
- RAM: two user-accessible DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, up to 16GB per module and 32GB total
- Faster memory is fine but runs at 2400 MT/s - the CPU officially supports DDR4-2400
- Storage: one position only, either an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD or a 2.5-inch SATA drive up to 7mm
- No documented capacity cap, though Dell's own catalog tops out at 1TB
- CPU is soldered and cannot be upgraded
| 2x SO-DIMM DDR4, up to 32GB total | 2 × DDR4 / SSD / HDD SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 2666 MT/s |
|---|---|
| 1x M.2 2280 NVMe or 2.5in SATA (caddy) | SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick |
Lifecycle and support
A current model: sold new and supported.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Release First available to buy. |
April 30, 2019
Estimate
Dell Latitude 5400 (Windows variant) — reported 'now available at Dell.com' on the day of the Dell Technologies World announcement week; no dated Dell press release with an explicit on-sale date could be found, so this is a third-party (estimate) date. Source ↗ |
Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.
RAM upgrade
What fits: the Latitude 5400 has two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots for DDR4 memory. Nothing is soldered, so both slots are yours to fill. The maximum is 16GB per module, so 2 x 16GB gives you the full 32GB. Use non-ECC, unbuffered modules only.
Speed: Dell ships DDR4-2666 modules in these laptops, but the Whiskey Lake processor officially supports DDR4-2400. Any DDR4 SO-DIMM from 2133 up to 3200 MT/s will work, and faster modules simply downclock to 2400. In practice, that means memory speed is not something worth paying extra for here.
What to watch out for: these are laptop SO-DIMMs, not desktop DIMMs - the long desktop sticks will not fit. ECC and registered server memory will not work. There is no soldered memory to work around and no free slot hidden elsewhere, so if both slots are full, you upgrade by replacing the modules.
Buying tip: a matched pair of two identical modules is the simplest way to reach 32GB. If you only need a modest bump, check how many slots are already occupied first so you buy the right number of sticks.
Buying tips
- DDR4 SO-DIMM, non-ECC and unbuffered
- 16GB per module is the maximum, so buy 2 x 16GB for 32GB total
- DDR4-2666 or faster is fine, but it will run at 2400 - don't pay a premium for speed
Storage upgrade
What fits: there is one storage position, and it takes either an M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 x4) or, on units configured with a hard drive, a 2.5-inch SATA drive up to 7mm thick. It is one or the other - you cannot run an M.2 drive and a 2.5-inch drive at the same time in this laptop.
If your machine shipped with an SSD and you want to switch to a 2.5-inch SATA drive instead, you will need the Dell drive bracket and the SATA cable. Both are often missing on SSD-configured units, so factor that into what you buy and check the parts are actually present before ordering a drive.
Capacity: there is no documented capacity cap. Dell's own catalog tops out at 1TB, so larger drives may well work but are unconfirmed by the manufacturer.
What to watch out for: check the drive height if you go the 2.5-inch route, since anything over 7mm will not fit. For the M.2 route, the physical size to look for is 2280 and the interface is NVMe - a plain SATA M.2 drive is a different animal, so match what the slot takes.
Buying tip: an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD is the straightforward upgrade for most owners. Cloning or reinstalling onto the new drive is the usual approach - back up first either way.
Buying tips
- M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x4) for the simplest upgrade
- 2.5-inch SATA drives must be 7mm or thinner
- Going 2.5-inch from an SSD model? Make sure the Dell bracket and SATA cable are included
How to upgrade
Before you start
- Back up your data before opening the case
- Shut down fully and unplug the charger and all cables
- Ground yourself to avoid static damage
- Open the bottom cover to reach the RAM slots and storage bay
- Install the new part, close the case
- Power on and confirm the BIOS and operating system see the new memory or drive
- Check Dell's owner's manual for the exact disassembly steps for your unit
Steps
- Back up
Save anything you cannot afford to lose. A storage swap usually means copying or reinstalling your system, and even a memory change is worth doing with a recent backup in place. - Power down
Shut the laptop down completely - not sleep or hibernate - and unplug the charger and every cable and dock. - Ground yourself
Discharge any static before you touch the memory or the drive. - Open the case
Remove the bottom cover to reach the two SO-DIMM slots and the single storage position. Dell's owner's manual for the Latitude 5400 shows the exact screws and clips for your unit. - Install the part
Fit the new memory modules or the new drive in the slot the old one came from. If you are moving to a 2.5-inch SATA drive from an SSD model, the Dell drive bracket and SATA cable have to be fitted first. - Close up and verify
Refit the bottom cover, power on, and check in the BIOS and in your operating system that the new memory or drive is detected at the size you expected.
Good to know
- Dell's owner's manual for the Latitude 5400 should be your reference for disassembly - this page stays general on purpose.
- Memory speed is limited by the processor: Dell ships DDR4-2666 modules but the Whiskey Lake CPU officially supports DDR4-2400, so faster modules downclock.
- Storage capacity has no documented cap; Dell's catalog stops at 1TB, so bigger drives are unconfirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM can the Dell Latitude 5400 take?
32GB total. There are two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots with a maximum of 16GB per module, and nothing is soldered.
Does the Latitude 5400 support DDR4-3200 or faster memory?
Faster DDR4 SO-DIMMs work, but the Whiskey Lake processor officially supports DDR4-2400, so anything quicker simply runs at 2400. Dell ships DDR4-2666 modules, which also run at 2400.
Does the Dell Latitude 5400 support NVMe SSDs?
Yes. The storage position takes an M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 x4), or alternatively a 2.5-inch SATA drive up to 7mm thick.
Can I have an SSD and a hard drive at the same time?
No. There is one storage position only, so it is either an M.2 drive or a 2.5-inch drive, not both.
Can I upgrade the CPU in the Latitude 5400?
No. The Whiskey Lake U-series processor is soldered to the motherboard, so there is no CPU upgrade path.
Is there a limit to how big an SSD I can install?
Dell's documentation does not state a capacity limit. Dell's own catalog tops out at 1TB, so larger drives may work but are unconfirmed.
Official documents and references
- Dell Latitude 5400 14-inch 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8365U, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD (product listing)
Documents a 16GB DDR4 configuration of the 5400 14-inch 8th Gen model. - Dell Latitude 5400 14-inch 8th Gen Core i5-8365U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD (product listing)
Shows an 8GB DDR4 / 512GB SSD configuration of the same model. - Dell Latitude 5400 14-inch 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8665U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD (product listing)
Lists the i7-8665U processor used in this model. - Dell Latitude 5400 14-inch 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD (product listing)
Another 16GB DDR4 configuration of the same model.