Hardwired IT installs computer hardware upgrades on-site across Ottawa, sending a technician to your home to add RAM, swap in an SSD, replace a drive, battery, or laptop screen, or fit a desktop GPU in a single visit. The technician assesses your system first, confirms what's compatible, and gives you an exact quote before any work begins.
A new computer is the right choice sometimes — but less often than most people assume. A targeted upgrade on an otherwise functional machine often gives you three to four more years of reliable performance for a fraction of the cost of replacing it.
A customer in Orléans called us in for a Lenovo IdeaPad from 2018 that took roughly eight minutes to reach the Windows desktop and stalled on every click. He was ready to buy a new laptop. The diagnosis pointed straight at the original mechanical hard drive, not the processor or RAM — it tested healthy but was simply too slow for Windows 11. We cloned the drive to an SSD on-site, and the same laptop booted in about 20 seconds; the whole swap took just over an hour.
Another common scenario: a desktop that handles everyday tasks fine but struggles with multiple browser tabs or light photo editing. The CPU isn't the bottleneck — it's 8GB of RAM that's being constantly exhausted. Adding RAM to 16GB resolves this entirely.
When upgrading isn't worth it: if the machine has a failing CPU fan and a cracked hinge and a dead battery and a screen that flickers, the individual upgrades add up to more than a replacement computer is worth. We assess your system honestly and tell you which situation you're in before recommending anything. We won't sell you a repair you don't need.
Every upgrade is done on-site. We assess compatibility first, then install the right parts during the same visit.
| Service | How We Quote | Typical On-Site Duration |
|---|---|---|
| RAM upgrade | Exact quote after on-site diagnosis — we confirm DDR generation, capacity ceiling, and available slots first | 30–60 min |
| SSD/storage upgrade | Exact quote after on-site diagnosis — we check interface (M.2 NVMe vs SATA), capacity needs, and cloning requirements | 45–90 min |
| GPU upgrade (desktop) | Exact quote after on-site diagnosis — we verify PSU wattage, PCIe connector availability, and case clearance | 45–60 min |
| Battery replacement | Exact quote after on-site diagnosis — model-specific battery sourced for your laptop | 20–30 min |
| Screen replacement | Exact quote after on-site diagnosis — panel compatibility confirmed against your exact laptop model | 60–90 min |
Every quote is provided after we see your computer in person. We do not quote over the phone — until we verify your motherboard's DIMM slots, BIOS revision, and PSU connectors, any number is a guess.
Every brand has upgrade-specific constraints. We know them before we arrive.
Adding RAM is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost upgrades available. Going from 8GB to 16GB transforms a sluggish multitasker into a capable machine. We verify motherboard compatibility and maximum supported RAM before sourcing parts.
Replacing a spinning hard drive with a solid-state drive is the single biggest speed improvement most computers can receive. Boot times drop from minutes to seconds. All files are cloned — nothing is lost.
A clicking, slow, or SMART-failing hard drive needs to be replaced before it dies completely. We replace failing drives proactively — before data loss occurs. Data can be cloned to the new drive during the same visit.
For desktops using integrated graphics or an aging GPU, a new graphics card can dramatically improve gaming performance and video rendering. We verify PSU wattage and PCIe slot compatibility before recommending a GPU upgrade.
A battery that only holds 30 minutes of charge or dies unexpectedly doesn't mean you need a new laptop. We source batteries for common laptop models and replace them on-site during the same visit as other upgrades.
Cracked, flickering, dim, or dead laptop screens are replaceable without buying a new machine. We stock panels for common Dell, HP, and Lenovo models and can perform most screen replacements during a single on-site visit.
RAM amount dramatically affects how smoothly your computer runs, especially when multitasking. Here's a practical guide.
| RAM Amount | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| 8GB | Light use: web browsing, email, Office apps with a few tabs open | Struggles with many browser tabs, background apps, or any creative software |
| 16GB | Most home users: multitasking, many browser tabs, light creative work, Zoom/Teams | May feel limited with very heavy video editing or large dataset work |
| 32GB | Video editing, photo editing with large files, software development, virtualization | Overkill for general home use; meaningful only for heavy workloads |
| 64GB+ | Professional workstations: 4K/6K video editing, 3D rendering, running multiple VMs | Not needed for any standard home or office use case |
Before recommending a RAM upgrade, we check your motherboard's maximum supported RAM and the type (DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4x, etc.) to ensure compatibility. Not all machines can be upgraded — some ultra-thin laptops have RAM soldered directly to the motherboard.
The assumption that laptops can't be upgraded is outdated for most machines. The majority of laptops sold between 2014 and 2021 have user-accessible RAM slots and replaceable storage. The process takes under an hour for most models and can be done on-site at your kitchen table.
Where it gets more complicated: newer ultra-thin laptops — particularly models from the last 3–4 years — have increasingly moved toward soldered RAM (RAM chips permanently attached to the motherboard). On these machines, RAM isn't upgradeable. Storage is usually still replaceable, and for many of these machines, an SSD swap is the most impactful upgrade available.
We check your specific laptop model before recommending anything. There's no point arriving at your home with a RAM kit for a machine that has soldered memory — we research compatibility beforehand and give you an honest answer upfront. If the only upgradeable component is storage and storage isn't your bottleneck, we'll tell you that rather than selling you an upgrade that won't help.
For desktops, the upgrade story is almost always better. Standard ATX and mid-tower cases provide easy access to all components, and most desktop motherboards support much higher RAM capacities than the system shipped with.
The honest answer depends on three factors: what you're upgrading, how old the machine is, and what else might be wrong with it.
Age matters — but less than you think. A 6-year-old laptop with a good processor, proper cooling, and no other hardware issues is often an excellent upgrade candidate. A 2-year-old laptop with bad thermal design, a failing charging port, and a cracked hinge may not be worth touching regardless of how capable the processor is.
What limits the upgrade. Every motherboard has a maximum supported RAM and storage interface. We check this before recommending an upgrade so you know what ceiling you're working with. If a machine maxes out at 16GB and currently has 8GB, upgrading to 16GB is straightforward and worthwhile. If it maxes out at 8GB and already has 8GB, RAM isn't the solution.
The 50% rule of thumb. If the cost of upgrading what needs to be fixed approaches 50% or more of what a comparable replacement machine costs, replacement is usually the better financial decision. We do this math with you during the assessment. If we think replacement makes more sense, we'll say so — we'd rather you get a good outcome than sell you a marginal upgrade.
Every upgrade includes a free assessment, then an exact quote covering parts and labour before we start. You only pay once you approve it.
Cost depends on how much memory your computer needs and the type it takes. We confirm compatibility on-site first, then give you an exact quote covering parts and labour before installing anything.
Cost depends on the drive size and your machine. The quote covers assessment, backup, the drive, physical install, and cloning or a fresh OS install — all confirmed before we start. See our SSD upgrade page for full detail.
First service? Use code WELCOME25 for $25 off. Seniors, veterans, students, and first responders receive 10% off. Whichever saves you more applies — the two discounts are not combinable.
If a hardware upgrade doesn't resolve the issue we diagnosed, you don't pay. We assess before we recommend. We won't install a part you don't need.
On-site hardware upgrades at your home or office — no shop visit, no days without your computer.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call (613) 416-9482 — we'll confirm right away.
For most home users running Windows 11, 16GB is the sweet spot. 8GB is the minimum, but it limits multitasking. 32GB makes sense for video editing, design, or heavy multitasking. We check what your motherboard supports and recommend accordingly.
Many laptops allow RAM and storage upgrades — though some newer ultra-thin models have RAM soldered to the board. Storage (SSD) is usually upgradeable even on newer models. We check your specific make and model first before recommending anything.
RAM upgrade cost depends on how much memory your computer needs and the type it takes, so we confirm compatibility before quoting. A technician checks your system on-site and gives you an exact, upfront price before installing anything. You only pay once you approve the quote.
Most RAM, SSD, or drive upgrades take 45–90 minutes on-site. Screen replacements typically take 60–90 minutes. We work at your home or office, so you keep your routine.
Usually yes, if the processor and motherboard are still reasonable. An upgrade like an SSD or more RAM can extend a working computer's life by several years for far less than a replacement. We give you an honest comparison on-site, and if buying new genuinely makes more sense, we'll tell you.
RAM upgrades, SSD and hard drive replacements, battery replacements, screen replacements, thermal paste replacement (for overheating), and GPU swaps on desktop systems. We bring the parts we need based on our assessment.
No. Hardwired IT comes to your home or office anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau. We bring the tools and compatible parts. No shop visit, no days without your computer.
Our no-fix-no-fee guarantee applies. If a hardware upgrade doesn't resolve the issue we diagnosed, you don't pay for the upgrade. We diagnose thoroughly before recommending — we won't sell you a repair you don't need.
A certified Hardwired IT technician comes to you — same-day in Ottawa and Gatineau. Free assessment, transparent quote, no fix no fee.
Or call us directly: (613) 416-9482
Available 8am – 10pm, every day. English and French service.