Broadwell ThinkPads might take 16 GB RAM modules

Exciting news: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/16GB-SO-DIMMs-work-in-X250/m-p/2036102#M61618

This means X250 can take up to 16 GB, and maybe T450s could take up to 20 GB - machines like the W550s or L450 32 GB of RAM (if the CPU doesn´t limit it to 16 GB)!

The only downside: These modules are really expensive (around 350 € around here). Also, X250 will still only run in single channel.

 

Do you have any updates on the 16 GB memory modules testing? Are the 16 GB modules only available from one manufacture?

 

The highest i7 available on both T450 and T450s (Core i7 5600U) is limited to 16GB according to Intel's ARK. However, maybe we could see a T450p arriving, with a CPU allowing more than 16GB ? Do we know if the use reported on x250 is one 16GB module, or more? I would say one.

 

Yes, Intel says 16 GB maximum, but it was reported that un-officially, 32 GB are no problem - Lenovo even tested these RAM modules in their Japanese labs for the Broadwell machines.

Same situation as with the T61, where 4 GB of RAM also was the official maximum - but they do take 8 GB RAM with no problem.

 

$325 USD per 16GB stick is rather cost prohibitive for many buyers. But, I would not mind having a T450p with 32GB of RAM. Maybe someday in the future (assuming a T450p materializes).

 

With sandybrdige (xx20), Lenovo said it supports maximum 2x4gb of ram, while intel ark said it supports maximum 16gb (2x8) , .. intel's ark was correct.

Right now, intel ark is saying 16gb total, so from history, intel's ark has been reliable.

http://ark.intel.com/products/85215/Intel-Core-i7-5600U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz

This needs to be tested properlly, and to make sure that the laptops are able to utlize the whole ram, and not just 'work'.

I wonder if there is hardware limitation in the processor/memory controller that would make the laptop unable to allocate the full 32gb.

This would be great if true.

 

Its true, ark.intel says 16 GB max. ... but - our good friend @lead_org did tell me that he spoke to Lenovo employees on CES 2015 and they definitely said that 32 GB will be possible for T450, W550s etc.

A German forum user also stated that this official limitation is based on the assumption that you only have 4 Gigabit DRAMs, which means 16 GB maximum, cause the maximal sice for 4 Gigabit SODIMMs is 8 GB (the ULV CPUs support two slots, and therefore, this results in this 16 GB maximum). But he also said there is a confidential document from Intel where they state that Broadwell also works with 8 Gigabit SODIMMS - under "special cicumstances". Which essentially means that the CPUs do work with more than 16 GB of RAM.

I guess we will know soon. German reseller OK2 already announced they will test these new modules in the Broadwell models.

 

i was told 16 gigs modules are supported on broadwell machines, and is in the process of being qualified for ThinkPads.

 

I don't think that will happen anytime soon. I didn't think Lenovo qualifies or supports until they sell a model that includes the SODIMM stick already in it.

 

German Notebookcheck did update their report on these new modules today, they tested them in a W550s and you indeed are able to use the full 32 GB of RAM They also tested a Haswell machine and confirmed that these modules indeed only work with Broadwell CPUs.

T450s will have a maximum capacity of 20 GB of RAM, X250 of 16 GB. The only machines stuck to 8 GB of RAM are the X1 Carbon 3 and the ThinkPad Yoga 12 (and the ThinkPad Helix, if you want to count that one).

 

what i mean they are unofficially supported on the machine, but Lenovo is also testing them on the ThinkPad, which i guess means it will be available as an option in future build.

 

Excellent, I've ordered the modules and the laptop yesterday. Should have everything setup in two weeks. .

 

I doubt that Lenovo will officially sell them as an option.
Reason is that the Broadwell CPU has a little bug. It can only work with 16GB modules when these fulfill a certain timing-spec that is out of the official JEDEC standard for DDR3. This is the case only for 16GB modules, not for lower densities. 16GB modules are built of chips having 8 Gigabit (1 Gigabyte) each and these have a standard spec for the timing value that the Broadwell can not support.

But: Intelligent Memory modules (type IMM2G64D3LSOD8AG) work, because inside of each of their chips are two pieces of 4 Gigabit silicons, thus the timing value of 4 Gigabit chips apply, which are within Broadwells "out of spec" requirements.

As the spec is non-standard, Lenovo might decide not to officially approve 16GB modules.
If other modules with 16GB appear on the market one day, they have a high risk of failing after days of weeks. The problem is not necessarily visible right away.
Here is a link to an online shop in USA: https://squareup.com/market/MemphisElectronicRetail/imm-g-d-lsod-ag-b-e-1

 

I haven't seen a couple of things addressed with these modules. Do they have a lifetime warranty? What is the return policy of squareup.com ?

 

http://www.memphis.ag/en/contact/imprint/ Then scroll down and click on general terms and conditions and then read 5.4 under guarantee and liability.

It looks like a 12 month warranty to me.

 

Thanks. 12 months on an expensive product. Hmmm...

 

Expensive is relative. I remember when 8GB modules were finally available at OEMs, and Dell charged over 8k extra to upgrade their Precisions from 8GB to 32GB.

Anyway, I wonder if the venerable W701 could handle these new 16GB modules? The memory controller is not on the CPU (Clarksfield). Not in the mood to find out though.

 

My understanding is that the older chipsets are not supported at all, Broadwell only.

 

$325 per stick isn't goong to break my bank, but a single source and small warranty does raise a flag.

Be happy when there are more options.

 

Surprisingly, Ivy bridge and Haswell 'M' series processors do support up to 32GB of ram.

http://ark.intel.com/products/64896/Intel-Core-i5-3320M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz

So those modules might work on those too.

 

No they won't.

Read ibmthink's post above...

 

Reminds me of my X220. Lenovo only would go up to 8GB in there, but 16GB works. In fact, when the sucker boots to do the memory check, EFI/BIOS boot screen lobs off the 1 in the 16384, so it says I have 6384MB available. LOL.

So yeah, give it time. You'll be eventually able to stick a mainstream 16GB SO-DIMM in it when they become more widely available. When it dips below $150, I'll consider it. Until then, I can live with 8GB and a SSD.

 

Received my 16GB memory module on Monday, the laptop should be there next monday, finger crossed

 

My laptop arrived today at the office. I've put my 16GB memory stick. 20GB are visible both in the BIOS and on the Ubuntu I've installed

 

Any clarification on if the T540p supports 16GB dimms with a i7 4900qm?

 

Haswell models generally don´t support these modules.

 

Any information about which Haswell processors where used for that testing ?

Haswell M series supports 32 GB of ram, while Haswell U only support 16 GB.
according to intel's ark

http://ark.intel.com/products/76308
http://ark.intel.com/products/76347

 

They tested a ZBook 15 G2 with Core i7-4910MQ - system does not start with these modules.

 

lots of good info here, been waiting a long time for this. What's the highest resolution screen thinkpad I can buy that will support 2x 16gb modules. Is there any thinkpad in the works that will take 4x 16gb?

 

The W550s/T550 with 2880x1620 can take 2x 16 GB.

I guess the first machines with 4x 16 GB will be coming later this year either with Broadwell Quad-Core or Skylake, though nothing concrete is known about these machines yet.

 

That's two downsides, cost and performance. With 20 GB installed, 60% of T450s memory would be in single channel mode, which can significantly reduce performance, especially with integrated graphics. My own tests of video encoding show 6-10% performance loss.