Laptop RAM upgrade, past supported amount?

I am looking at upgrading the RAM on my laptop but potentially past the supported amount and just seeing if anybody has tried it before I do.

So its a Lenovo ideapad 310 with an AMD A10-9600p processor which is currently 8GB, with a 4GB stick (DDR4 2133mhz) and 4GB on board. CPUZ shows 8Gb single channel 933mhz, with the 4GB stick in slot 1 and no info on slot 2.

So everywhere I look it says changing for a 8GB stick to make it 12GB will work fine, but I am thinking for the cost adding a 16gb stick for 20GB (I do photo/video editing so will use whatever is there).

Of course I don't have a stick just to test with before I buy anything.

Any experience with similar hardware could be useful.

Thanks

Unfortunately due to the current lockdown this won’t be possible but if nearby then I have a laptop with 2 16Gb DDR4 sticks so could have temp stuck one in your to see if it would work?

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Originally Posted by IAmATeaf

Unfortunately due to the current lockdown this won’t be possible but if nearby then I have a laptop with 2 16Gb DDR4 sticks so could have temp stuck one in your to see if it would work?

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I am in Manchester so not to close but thank you.

A part of me thinks it probably will work, looking at the price of a used stick I could always buy a used one and if it doesn't work sell it on.

I would be too sure, not the same I know but I have laptops that won’t boot if you put in an 8Gb DDR3 stick in.

This tool will tell you what RAM is supported for your specific laptop model:
https://uk.crucial.com/store/advisor

If CPU-Z reckons it's single channel that means the soldered RAM and stick share a channel - at which point sticking a 16GB stick in would push you to 20GB on one channel, which I strongly suspect is not supported...

So the crucial tool has confused the issue as they guarantee what they sell will work and reports:

Maximum Memory: 12GB

*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.

Slots: 1 (1 bank of 1)

Standard Memory: 12GB (4GB non-removable)

Now looking through what they will sell me it lists 4, 8 and 16gb sticks which tells me crucial think it will work, I note the * the statement 'Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory' but not supported doesn't strictly mean it won't work.

So the safe option is get a cheap 8GB stick and be happy but there is still that part of me wanting to try.

Wonder if you could use the confusing info as a reason to return if the 16Gb stick didn’t work.

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Originally Posted by IAmATeaf

Wonder if you could use the confusing info as a reason to return if the 16Gb stick didn’t work.

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This is an interesting point, I get the same results using their tool to detect and putting the model number in.

Problem is I am looking at used parts to save money, seems cex is good for the right now at £38 for 16gb and £18 for 8gb (both below the ebay used price index).

Might also be worth looking on gumtree and Facebook marketplace, might be able to get something locally? Provided you keep at least 2m apart :)