The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    How to install RAM (w520)

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by jakub17, Jul 29, 2011.

  1. jakub17

    jakub17 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    OK so I bought a system with a 1x4gb ram stick. I bought an extra 4gb stick, and I want to install it.

    From my understanding, I have to place it in the left slot on the bottom of the laptop. However, the left slot has this black tapelike surface, while the right one doesn't (green with sime erial codes on it etc. Should I remove the black tape or keep it before putting the RAM in? Or does it not matter?
     
    jakub17, Jul 29, 2011
    #1
  2. Jarhead

    Jarhead 恋の♡アカサタナ

    Reputations:
    5,036
    Messages:
    12,168
    Likes Received:
    3,134
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Don't remove the tape. Simply insert the RAM stick in the slot you want to, with the best performance being in Slot1.
     
    Jarhead, Jul 30, 2011
    #2
  3. leshan

    leshan Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    130
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    1. under keyboard upper
    2. bottom closer to DVD
    3. under keyboard lower
    4. the last one
     
    leshan, Jul 30, 2011
    #3
  4. Mech0z

    Mech0z Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    80
    Messages:
    506
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    But where is the one that is bought with the pc?
     
    Mech0z, Jul 30, 2011
    #4
  5. ComputerNewb

    ComputerNewb Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    101
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    All quad-core w520 come with 4 DIMM slots. Two of them are underneath the back-cover. The other 2 are underneath the keyboard. If you order 1-DIMM, it is placed underneath the keyboard so it is somewhat easier to install your second DIMM for dual channel support.
     
    ComputerNewb, Jul 30, 2011
    #5
  6. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    146
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Correction, ALL W520's come with 4 DIMM slots, it's just that on dual core systems 2 of them are filled with dummy cards with a "Do not remove" symbol, and won't boot if you have more than 2 DIMMs in.
     
    kirayamato26, Jul 30, 2011
    #6
  7. Thors.Hammer

    Thors.Hammer Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    982
    Messages:
    5,162
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    216
    That has to be the oddest thing I've ever heard.
     
    Thors.Hammer, Jul 30, 2011
    #7
  8. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    146
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's even odder when you see it. If you want pictures, I'll take some when I put another 4GB stick in. :p

    The slots themselves are real slots, it's just that you can't put any RAM in them.

    Maybe it was cheaper for Lenovo to just use the same motherboard for all W520's instead of making 2 different models.
     
    kirayamato26, Jul 30, 2011
    #8
  9. SwagNet

    SwagNet Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Can i put two under the laptop and leave the other under the keyboard empty? or does it have to be in that order?

    For example: if stock was in slot 0 and 1 are under the keyboard and slot 0 is filled with stock can i leave slot 1 alone and put 2 sticks in slot 2 and 3?

    Also is there anything else I should be aware/take precaution when I'm adding ram? i.e something about anti-static bag?!? :confused:
    Thanks for input/help.
     
    SwagNet, Jul 30, 2011
    #9
  10. SwagNet

    SwagNet Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks
     
    SwagNet, Aug 1, 2011
    #10
  11. Jarhead

    Jarhead 恋の♡アカサタナ

    Reputations:
    5,036
    Messages:
    12,168
    Likes Received:
    3,134
    Trophy Points:
    681
    I have two Mushkin sticks under the laptop and the factory Samsung stick in it's normal slot, and everything's working fine.
     
    Jarhead, Aug 1, 2011
    #11
  12. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    146
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have an easier time with RAM as 2 of my slots are occupied by dummy cards with "Do not remove" symbols on them. :p

    Indeed, you want to add the RAM to slot 2, as identified by CPU-Z, which is the one on the bottom to the left. I'm guessing that it doesn't matter if you fill slot 1 or slot 3 first, but why not fill both and get dual channel performance?
     
    kirayamato26, Aug 1, 2011
    #12