Lenovo x201/x201s 16GB (2x 8GB) RAM support

[Kromulator]

Hello everyone,

I have a X201s notebook - which is a very decent one with i7, 8GB and 256GB Samsung PM800 SSD.

I have been running on 8GB since day one in 2010 when I got it. Now I need more RAM and tried to upgrade to 16Gb but the 8GB sticks I bought froM GEIL or G.Skill just does not do. I have read that Corsair produce similar results.

The BIOS does recognise the RAM and show it as 16GB, however Windows 7 stops booting where the graphical part should appear (the flying balls), so does Windows 8 when I try to install it. No MS OS can be installed either.

Windows Memory Check runs but VERY slow. I would say it would take a month for it to complete.

Tried both BIOS 1.36 and 1.38.

Question to Lenovo - any plans to support 16Gb for X201?

So far I seen people tested GEIL, G.Skill, OWC, Corsair - neither of them had any luck.

Thanks.

Question to all - anyone got it running with 16GB?

[HiVolt]

I don't think the first generation mobile Intel Core I7's support 2x8GB ram.

Here's a cpu spec page on the one that came with the x201/s and it shows 8GB max.

http://ark.intel.com/products/43563/Intel-Core-i7-640LM-Processor-%284M-Cache-2_13-GHz%29

[Kromulator]

So why would BIOS recognise it then?

[HiVolt]

It may recognize the capacity, but there's an obvious issue with addressing the memory since you cant get past the loading screen or install new OS, and the memtest runs funny.

[ccl13]

Well, for X201, the real problem is that first generation i7 only supports 8GB memory. It is impossible to support 16GB. Please refer to Intel for the information: http://ark.intel.com/products/43560/Intel-Core-i7-620M-Processor-(4M-Cache-2_66-GHz)

[Kromulator]

Yeah make sense.

I just thought because manufacturers sometimes state a "safe" figure - like most of LGA 2011 MB's today would say 64GB is max while LGA 2011 support 128 GB. But I guess Intel would have their specs updated if it would work with 16GB. Thanks everyone.

[ccl13]

Sorry I just saw @HiVolt stated the reason before me.

@Kromulator the mechanism behind this is that the memory controller embedded into the processor will take up die-size and thus create a lot of problem like unevenly spread heat. So Intel is very conservative on this, they only put in what is really needed. Recognize the amount of memory is no longer a process that need the memory controller to actually try address all the memory. The MC could just read the SPD information and report the amount. But still, it can only use which part that is really addressable.

[alphaman]

Has anyone tried this?

I don't believe the Gen1 i7 remark about not supporting it as the W510 has a gen1 i7 and can support 32GB of RAM. 

[ncadden]

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alphaman wrote:

Has anyone tried this?

I don't believe the Gen1 i7 remark about not supporting it as the W510 has a gen1 i7 and can support 32GB of RAM. 

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 I haven't yet but I'm about to.  Placing my order for 2x8 GB RAM as we speak.

FWIW, I don't believe that remark either as I've been running 16GB of RAM on my Macbook Pro for several months now & it's got the exact same Gen1 i7 processor that I've got on this guy.

I'll know by Thursday either way though.

[alex1906 Retired Support Specialist]

Hello Kromulator,

I don't think the restriction of the RAM is due to the processor.

The X201/X201s can not support more than 8Gb of memory due to restrictions.  More than likely these restrictions are due to the motherboard. 

http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/ltwbook.pdf

But as you can see on the link I have provided on the X201 section toward the bottom, the Max RAM is 8Gb.

BIOS will recognize more RAM but can not do anything with it.  The RAM will sadly be motionless and unusable.

8Gb is the Max and 4Gb is the standard.

To speed up the computer a good idea would be possible an SSD or a partition for cache.

I hope this helps,

Alex