Laptop RAM upgrade, past supported amount?

[Percy1983]

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

[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?

[Percy1983]

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?

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.

[IAmATeaf]

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.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

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

[scaryjim]

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...

[Percy1983]

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.

[IAmATeaf]

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

[Percy1983]

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

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).

[IAmATeaf]

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