Does X220 Support 1866MHz Ram?

I know that the max RAM for the X220 is apparently 8GB (which should be ideal for me). I read someone saying they had 1600MHz RAM.

Does anyone know if 1866MHz RAM is supported by the X220?

I have an i5 processor - is there any system limitation with using 1866MHz e.g. system only utilizes a percentage of the RAM?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

The maximum capacity is at least 16GB (which has been working for me for over a year without a single glitch).

Not sure about the clock frequency though. I'm not optimistic about this.

 

Wow. 16gb is crazy. I don't think I'd need that. Is 8gb sufficient for gaming?

I know that it's better to install RAM in pairs though I just priced 8gb modules and it seems that one 8gb module is around the same price as 2x4gb modules. Would a 8gb+2gb configuration work ok? This would allow me to simply buy one more 8gb module later rather than buy 2x4gbs and replace them later.

 

It might depend on the specific model. One user had problems getting his Corsair Vengeance to run at 1866MHz (but it did at 1333MHz). Another user got a memory module to run at 1866MHz but the memory and laptop model are not confirmed. Based on his signature it looks like it was the Kingston HyperX in an X220.

 

Thanks. It's strange that some modules are working beyond 1333 and some aren't. I read that the data specifications for the x220 says that the memory is limited to 1333.

Does this problem with not being recognised occur with 1600 modules as well?

 

I have 12GB RAM, 16 isn't crazy

I feel the speed of it with an Intel SSD.

 

Apparently, as other users have reported, Lenovo introduced a limitation / restriction in recent BIOS updates, which prohibits memory modules from running beyond 1333 MHz. See the post in Corsair Vengeance 1866Mhz memory doesn't run at full speed on the X220 thread.

 

That's bizarre. Why would Lenovo introduce this limitation?

According to that thread, if you use the older bios then everything should be ok. If that bios is still available then I should be able to run the faster RAM, though hopefully the new bios isn't required to correct some other problem.

 

I thought only quad core i7 SB CPU's supported beyond DDR3 1600, in any case does RAM speed make that much difference? In normal use, it does not make a difference. Perhaps during rendering/CAD it will make a difference but you shouldn't be doing CAD on an X220..

 

I use photoshop every day and I'll be doing some gaming too. Apparently, the 1866 chips offer better performance in this regard.

 

Just buy it then. The "worst" that may happen is that the CPU insists on driving the RAM at 1333MHz and doesn't care about what you like and want.

 

Well I'm unsure as to whether this speed limitation is only with 1866 modules. That is, are the 1600 modules affected too?

Is it safer to purchase 1600 modules rather than take the risk of buying 1866 modules and being downgraded to 1333.

I'm tempted to buy one 8gb module instead of 2x4gb modules as the prices are the same. I know historically that people were always told to install RAM in pairs though I'm not sure if that's still the case.

I read a post on another forum that:

I like the idea of doing this as it allows me to upgrade later to 16GB (say in a year or so when apps take up more RAM) though I believe it's best to always have the same RAM when paired, and there is the risk I won't be able to get the same type of module. Is that a risk or is this wrong?

On the other side, RAM will be a lot cheaper in a year or so

 

That's not a risk, but apps aren't going to magically take up more RAM in a year's time. In fact, most applications I've seen have had about the same RAM requirements since around the Windows Vista era. If you need 16GB, get 16GB. If not, just stick with 8GB.

Also, RAM prices may not fall more than the current (very low) prices, particularly if DDR3 production is decreased to prepare to ramp up DDR4 output. But, that's hypothetical anyways, and doesn't take into account other possibilities (ie, the Thailand floods' effect on HDD prices).

 

Well, RAM has been quite inexpensive for a few years now.

You are unsure, yet you are so rigid with your ideas. The thread is reaching 2 pages, back and forth. I'm surprised the mods haven't moved it elsewhere, because the topic is not exactly related to X220 or any ThinkPad.

It boils down to about $50. Just try it and learn for yourself.

 

Thanks. 2x4GB might be sufficient for gaming and photoshop. I have the cash but not sure if I want to pay more as it will only be rare occasions that I will need it (i.e. I will probably close resource hungry apps when gaming).

Plus, there are no 8GB 1866 modules available at the moment so I think that 2x4gb 1866 modules would give better performance 95% of the time (i.e. daily usage).

This Corsair Vengeance Set seems pretty good value for around £46.

I wouldn't say I'm rigid on my ideas

I would rather just get it right before buying as far as a performance/necessity point of view, I don't know too much about the benefits of 4GB vs 8GB modules (which is why I posted).

I do disagree that this isn't Thinkpad or X220 related. I created the thread here as some members have noted that certain models of memory aren't getting full speed on the X220.

Money isn't the issue here. Time is. I'm leaving the UK to travel South America for several months in two weeks time and don't have time to test items and return them etc. I need to make sure I'm ordering the right modules before clicking the buy button

 

Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1866MHz DDR3 Memory

That's what you've wanted all along.

 

Thanks. That does look great though the price is ridiculous in the UK. It's around 4 times the price of the 8GB setup to get 16GB.

 

having used photoshop for the last 20 years, i can say with confidence that you'd know with absolute certainty if you needed more memory.   "out of memory" errors would be common either from your OS or photoshop itself.   8GB is plenty of memory for 500MB+ files and a large history.   swap space and its speed are typically far more important.

regarding memory clock speed, keep in mind that 1333MHz DDR3 notebook memory feeds data at around 5 GT/sec.   that's fast enough to load a 500MB file into memory ten times per second.   unless you're even remotely pushing this much data, you'll never notice any marginal gains from faster memory.   you'll be limited by the intel HD3000 graphics long before memory comes into play.   at that rate you'd be using a workstation instead of a notebook.

my largest photoshop project is about 2.5GB, has around 200 layers, and barely pushes 14GB of memory with a decent history going.   that file will load without issue on either of my X220s and each have 8GB.

like i said, you'd know what you need.   your environment will tell you.

hopefully that helps the perspective.

 

Thanks Eric. I appreciate the detailed info about this. I'm not a designer myself however I regularly have to open important website psds in order to modify them and the out of memory error happens a lot using a 4gb machine. From the sounds of it, 8 GB will be sufficient. 1600mhz seems like the safest bet.

 

I bought a pair of Kingston HyperX 1600mhz, but it looks like my X220 clocks it down to 1333. I mistakenly reported that I was getting 1600 mhz in another thread (last yearish); I'm hoping in the near future there will be SOMEthing that will let me get my 1600Mhz worth..if I knew it was gonna be at 1333 i wouldn't have paid for 1600 dernit

 

I was looking at buying kingston. The alternative is Crucial. Their scanner says that the 1.35 and 1.5 volt 1600 modules will work on the X220. I doubt this is a guarantee that the system will use 1600 mhz though. The modules may work well but only at a speed of 1333.

 

It took 3 pages to come back to this fundamental point. 1333MHz is not the bottleneck, why try to "optimize" around the speed? If you do need more RAM, get more RAM.

Buying 2 x 4GB sticks should not be a brain-twisting, heart-wrenching, wallet-destroying decision. (Money is not the issue, time is," you wrote. And it's been a few days, back and forth...)

 

I have genuinely no clue as to why you are contributing to threads you have no interest in.

 

I private messaged that user and he indeed is using Kingston HyperX 1866MHz memory in his X220 and it works fine. I just realized it says in his screenshot as well .