Scott,
I recently purchased a used Lenovo ThinkPad T420 in excellent condition. It has only 4 GB of RAM installed (one 4 GB module); I want to upgrade to 16 GB of memory. Yes, I know that the
official Lenovo specifications state 8 GB as the maximum amount of memory this ThinkPad model supports. However, I have read multiple reports on the Internet where users have upgraded their ThinkPad T420 laptops to 16 GB of RAM and it seems to work without any problems. Also, the Kingston memory configurator actually
shows an 8 GB RAM module as compatible with the T420. It also shows the maximum RAM for the T420 as 16 GB, contrary to Lenovo's specs. According to Intel, the
Core i5-2520M processor installed in my T420 does support 16 GB of RAM. Perhaps Lenovo just didn't test the T420 with 16 GB of RAM before it came out, because at the time 8 GB RAM modules were so expensive that Lenovo didn't think it would be sensible to offer 16 GB of RAM as an option? What is your view on this?
The next question I have is if I can install DDR3L RAM modules in the ThinkPad T420 without having to expect any problems. The reasoning behind this is simple: As you stated in
this post, DDR3L RAM is backwards compatible, but DDR3 RAM is not forward compatible. The Lenovo ThinkPad models T440 and T450 both require DDR3L RAM. Should I purchase a used ThinkPad T440 or T450 in the future, I could simply swap over the RAM modules from my T420 to one of these newer machines, but only if the RAM modules I purchase can also run at the 1600 MHz speed that these machines require.
Which leads to the next question: Lenovo's technical specs for the T420 state that this machine requires PC3-10600 Non-Parity DDR3 memory. Additionally they state, βThe use of 1333 MHz SO DIMM memory is recommended for this system.β In Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 22nd Edition, you write that it is okay to use faster specification DDR DIMMs in systems that require slower ones. (Chapter 6 β Memory; page 396; last sentence in the first paragraph under the bullet points.) Have I understood that correctly, and if so, would you confirm that in this situation?
I would like to use two Crucial 8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (DDR3-1600) memory modules (Crucial part number:
CT102464BF160B) in my ThinkPad T420. Strangely enough, Crucial doesn't list that part number as compatible with either the T440 or the T450, even though Crucial's specs match the memory requirements stated in the Lenovo technical specs for these two models. It goes without saying that it is not listed as compatible with my T420 either. Crucial manufactures two different RAM modules for the T440 and T450. Part number
CT4927823 for the T440 and part number
CT6942318 for the T450. Why would it be necessary to offer these other part numbers for the two aforementioned ThinkPad models if they would both work properly with part number CT102464BF160B? I suspect that there are slight differences between the modules and therefore it probably isn't a good idea to use RAM modules in a system that the manufacturer doesn't recommend them for. Do you agree?
So what should I do? Is it OK for me to purchase the aforementioned Crucial RAM modules or should I stick with DDR3 (instead of DDR3L) RAM that is rated at 1333 MHz (PC3-10600) instead of the 1600 MHz (PC3-12800) required for the
T430,
T440, and
T450?
I want to be as economical as I can from a long term viewpoint when purchasing the new RAM, however, I don't want to end up with RAM modules that don't work properly with the ThinkPad T420 I have recently purchased. Scott, what would you buy if it was your laptop?
Kind regards,
Daniel