Thinkpad max memory configurations for the models I own
Posted by jpluimers on 2022/02/28
Below are the maximum memory configurations for the Thinkpad models I own.
Note these re only 7-row keyboard configurations, the 6-row keyboards were always “meh”.
I used this command to get the CPU information:
wmic cpu get name
Memory speed
As mentioned in PC3-8500 or PC3-10600:
As PC3-10600 is getting increasingly difficult to acquire, PC3-12800 can be used instead. Using PC3-12800 may or may not increase the performance of your model, as some models may underclock it to their respective original DRAM speeds.
T510 – the midrange
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 560 @ 2.67GHz
[Wayback] Category:T510 – ThinkWiki
You might think it would fit two 8GB modules and be upgradable to 16GB, but the chipset prevents it. Some of the W510 models seem to accept 8GB modules though:
- [Wayback] Install 16GB RAM on T510 – Thinkpads Forum
So T510 only supports 8 GB RAM, potentially due to CPU limitation.
- [Wayback] Does T510 support up to 32 GB of RAM – Thinkpads Forum
The first generation iCore i5 and i7 duo core did not support more than 8 GB of RAM
W701 – the largest of the bunch
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @ 1.60GHz
[Wayback] Category:W701 – ThinkWiki 
- 2, 3, 4 or 8GB PC3-8500 memory standard, upgradable to 16 GB
I actually still have 16GB in my version, see: ThinkPad W701: Win7 Ultimate x64 suddenly only saw 8GB RAM of 16GB (via: [H]ard|Forum).
Searching back my blog history, I did note that 32GB should fit: ThinkPad W701 with 32GB of memory via: forum.thinkpads.com • Newer 8G memory sticks in a W700, W701, W500, W510 ?
X201 – the smallest of the bunch
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU M 620 @ 2.67GHz
[Wayback] Category:X201 – ThinkWiki
Some seem to differ however, and got 16GB to work, but others don’t, as only the lower 8GB are accessible:
- [Wayback] X201 laptop memory – Thinkpads Forum
- [Wayback/Archive.is] x201 and 16GB of memory : thinkpad
I might upgrade the W701, order 4*8GB modules, test some in the X201, then order more if it works.
Notes
Just in case I want to ever get a smaller Thinkpad with 7-row keyboard that allows 32-gigabytes of memory, the state as of 2019 is pretty accurate as no 7-row keyboards were manufacturerd after that (not even the horrendously expensive T25, which was a 2017 model [Wayback]/Archive.is] My ThinkPad T25 review : thinkpad):
[Wayback] Current Thinkpad models that support 32 gb ram (even unofficially) – Thinkpads Forum (state in 2019)
If you really want to go the T25 way, you can modify it to put T480 hardware in it: [Wayback] Thinkpad T25 Gets Less Retro With Hardware Swap | Hackaday
–jeroen
Videos of replacing memory
T510 memory replaement
One module on the back-side, one module under the keyboard.
W701 power connector replacement
(note the very thick panel: this is the W701ds (dual screen) model)
You can see 2 memory modules on the back side and 2 memory modules under the keyboard.
X201 memory upgrade
Two modules on the back-side.
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
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