16Gb ram support on Core i processors

[Albuquerque]

Greetings,

According to a multitude of sources to include Intel, the integrated memory controller on all i-series processors (Core i3, Core i5, Core i7) both in laptop and desktop forms support 8Gb DIMMs.  I have seen several reports of the T-series of Thinkpads with success installing a pair of 8Gb chips.  However, my Lenovo Y460 is not so lucky.

I have tried four total chips / two paired sets of 8Gb DIMMs, but to no avail.  I'm using the newest Lenovo firmware, but all the chips fail in exactly the same way and at the same point under the Memtest86 testing tool -- which would indicate something related to the system board or BIOS logic rather than the SODIMMs themselves failing.  The config page of the BIOS does correctly show 16,384Mb of ram installed, so this leads me to believe that the hardware is working as expected, at least in a basic / fundamental way.

As the Core i-series of processors directly interface with the ram (unlike prior processors which leverage the chipset as the ram interface), this is not a chipset limitation.  Although, if someone wanted to attempt that argument, the HM55 chipset also supports the 16Gb ram by association with the Core i series support of said config.

Any thoughts on what I could do to further troubleshoot this issue?

[yigit]

it supports* 8gb max.

edit: * according to user manual 

[Albuquerque]

Thank you for blurting out the standard Lenovo response, but that doesn't mean you're correct.

While I'm sure this is falling on deaf ears (eyes?), the Core i series does indeed support 16Gb of ram in dual-channel configurations.  Case in point, even the current Lenovo firmware indicates that 16Gb are fully recognized during POST.  Further, if the board was built to Intels' requirements for certification, it would be functioning with full stability instead of having hanging / BSOD issues.

I suppose I could put you in contact with some of the people whom I work with, who might be the people who designed this chipset and generally "ought to know".  But I doubt you'd believe me, or them, anyway.

[zoltanthegypsy]

At the risk of provoking more personal insults, may I ask the brand of RAM you  are trying?

I don't know how much RAM your machine should support.  I can say that many Lenovo users have had problems with Corsair RAM.

Z.

[yigit]

even if it supports, i don't think you'll be able to work it out due to bios limitation.

[madseason]

It is a procesor limitation in my opinion - as first generation of "i" procesors ony suppoerted max 8GB RAM in total (2x4GB).

http://ark.intel.com/products/49666

Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)	8 GB
Memory Types	DDR3-800/1066

What's more, yesterday I've installed 2x4GB 1066Mhz CL-7 Kingston memory and under windows performance index it is higher than 1333Mhz CL-9 that I had installed before (just thought that bigger numbers indicated better performance )