DDR3 laptop memory compatibility

[Eleanor Fudd]

I have an aging laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad E560 Laptop, Intel Core i5-6200U 2.3GHz, - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-i5-6200U-802-11ac-Bluetooth/dp/B0178JBNMO - which I want to begin using for recording while travelling or when using the big kit is not convenient. The critter has only 4GB of RAM, but capacity for 16 GB. The 4GB is Samsung RAM, and the name is respected, so I searched for 16GB of Samsung DDR3, Ye gads, the prices are all over the place https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/...98eac752&ref_=ast_bln&terms=16 GB DDR3 memory, and I realize that I know only the basics about RAM. Could someone knowledgeable tell me if one of the RAM kits are compatible with that laptop? If so, thanks very much.

 

[TalismanRich]

For the Lenovo E560, you will need to use 2 x 8GB DDR3L PC3L-12800 1600 MHz SODIMM modules. Maximum memory is 16GB, so you can't use the 4GB module. If you add 1 8GB module, that will give you 12GB which is what I run on my Lenovo H50 desktop. It is a very easy upgrade. Open the bay, plug in the module and go.

Samsung memory isn't necessary. I've upgraded 4 Lenovo laptops and several desktops. I've used PNY, Kingston, Crucial, and Patriot RAM without any issue. Prices will run from about $18 to $27 per module or $36 to $54which is cheap for 16GB RAM.

Crucial 2 x 8GB modules

Samsung 2 x 8GB modules

The other thing that will upgrade your system is converting to an SSD in place of the HDD. It's an easy swap, but you will need to clone the old HD to a new one. I bought a USB caddy to hold the SSD, copied the HDD to the SSD, then swapped units. That works just fine. A 1 TB SSD is under $100.

Samsung 870 EVO SSD