Unofficial T420 max support? [ Edited ]

[Sonymor]

Hi everyone, I want to buy a T420(not 430, not 420s/i), I know Lenovo Datasheet does not say the (All) actual max support of parts.

So, my Q is about Unofficial(actual) max support of these parts: Are my answers right? any experince ?

1- Memory capacity: 16 GB

2- Memory Ferequency: 1600 (Update: according to Intel 1333 for dualcore and 1600 for Quad Sandybridges)

3- CPU : 2920XM Quad core

4- Internal bay SATA interface speed: 6 Gbps

5- Ultrabay SATA interface speed: 6 Gbps

6- mSATA interface speed: 3 Gbps

7- USB interface: USB2 with 480 Mbps

8- eSATA interface speed: 3 Gbps 

maybe you want to add some questions?  

Update 

9- ExpressSlot/43 max Speed: 185 MB/s

10- USB3 Expresscard speed: ? 

11- Total # of independent displays: 3 

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

1) yes

2) no - 1333 mhz is the max supported. The T430 with ivy bridge support 1600 mhz.

3) quad core sandy bridge is supported, but they overheat as the result of the small fan on the T420.

4) yes

5) yes

6) yes

7) yes

[nibs Guru]

1- yes (original spec was 8GB max, it has been revised to 16GB officially) 

2- Official is 1333; 8GB of 1866 is known to work on X220 and may work on T420 (16GB @ 1866 might be pushing it though)

3- Quadcores will overheat, the cooling system is only designed for the TDP of the dual core. If you had a quad core good thermal interface material, and a way to significantly undervolt the processor it, you might be ok.

4 - yes

5- yes

6- yes

7- yes

8- yes

Express port- >/= 185 MB/sec

I know some Wseries owners add the Blu-Ray Burner (Panasonic UJ-240 OEM SATA) to their machines. I have not heard of this on the T420 yet. 

Screen- I don't know if people have tried something different like higher res, higher gamut, or different technology (such as IPS)).

Thinklight- It might be an interesting modding project to see one of these brighter or in a different color.

[lydiap]

nibs, did you have to do anything special aside from just put the two 8GB in?   I just ordered a set and am hoping there is nothing special that I have to do to get the T420 to actually use the memory!

Thanks!

Lydia

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

@lydiap, as long as you have the right operating system (64 bit and not 32 bit), then you can run the 2 x 8 gigs of ram no problem.

I have 2x8 gigs in my T420 right now.