The Best Memory Match for ThinkPad W520?

I am going to pick up my ThinkPad W520 at my parents' home in two weeks. So I am trying to buy more memory to upgrade/replace the stock 4GB. My objective is to get the max amount of memory possible for the W520, Not following the latest technical trends, I am very much confused about what choice I may have and what's the best for my new W520. Would really appreciate some advices that help me clarify. My apology for the long post!

My ThinkPad W520 specs in brief:

Homework I've done:
- Have read Lenovo's ThinkPad Tabbook regarding W520
- Have checked memory matching my ThinkPad W520 at Crucial.com
- Have read posts at this forum but they got me more confused

Questions concerning memory upgrade for ThinkPad W520 (machine type: 4270)
1. Memory type: Does the W520 support memory types DDR3 PC3-10600 or DDR3 PC3-12800 or both?
Lenovo's Tabbook says the W520 supports only DDR3 PC3-10600 memory, while Crucial.com says the W520 supports DDR3 PC3-12800 as well.

2. Amount of memory: Max 16GB or 32GB?
Lenovo's Tabbook says the max is 16GB while Crucial.com says it's 32GB.
I understand the quad-core has four memory slots in total, if 32GB, I'll have to get 4x8GB. And since the price tag for 8GB module is prohibitive, I guess I'll just settle with 4x4GB 16GB in total.

3. PC3-10600 1333Mhz or PC3-12800 1600Mhz?
Will money be spent for 1600Mhz instead 1333Mhz considering the price for 1600Mhz is 2.5 times more than that of 1333Mhz? Is the increased performnace humanly feelable?
PC3-12800 1600Mhz: Newegg.com - so dimm ddr3 hyperx
PC3-10600 1333Mhz
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Memory, Laptop Memory, 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM, DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600), 8GB (2 x 4GB),1333

4. Does the W520 support dual channel memory modules?

5. For compatibility, am I better replace the W520 stock 4GB memory with 4x4GB memory modules?

5. In conclusion, is this the best match for my W520?
G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8GBSQ
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8GBSQ

Again thank you for your kind help!

 

You just want the cheapest RAM with the same timings. If you want to use the DIMM that comes with the machine, then you need 1333 MHz RAM (timings 9-9-9-24). 1600 MHz RAM doesn't offer that much of a performance increase from what I've read on the internet.

 

Yep, simple as that. 1600MHz RAM is most noticeable with integrated graphics, as the GPU uses the system memory. If the system memory is faster, then GPU performance will increase slightly (emphasis on slightly). Your W520, however, has Optimus discrete graphics, so faster RAM will make no difference whatsoever.

I'd even question why you need so much RAM, as in most people's usage, 4GB of RAM is already plenty, and 8GB+ is definitely complete overkill. You'd notice far more performance benefits from an SSD, even a relatively inexpensive one.

 

Wow thanks for the fast reply

You know what, I was gonna just get 4 pieces of these and ditch the stock memory - selling it on eBay. I am paranoid about any possible incompatibility, and paranoid in general as you may already know it

Here's how I calculated it:
3x4GB = USD58
4x4GB = USD70
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8GBSQ

Yes, I've read customer feedback exactly as what you're saying.

 

First of all, thanks!

I'll be doing lots of video encoding stuff......Yep, sure will get SSD but this Crucial C400 128GB is currently out of stock at Newegg.
Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

 

Ah, then depending on what you're using, more memory could help, although I believe video encoding is usually CPU-bottlenecked. The RAM sticks that you linked to would work fine for your purposes.

 

I wish I could rep you twice Thanks!!!

 

8GB is good for alt tabbing quickly in games such as SCII.

 

If you're doing a lot of video encoding, it might make more sense to go the mSATA + HDD route. No way you can handle a lot of video with a tiny 128GB hard drive, which means you'll need to render to an external HDD, for which USB 2.0 will be a huge bottle neck.

 

What about for running VMware Workstation? I'd think that 32 GB could be useful there.

 

The OP's W520 Sandy Bridge CPU has memory bandwidth of 1333MHz, so 1600MHz RAM would be accessed at the lower speed.

On the other hand, Ivy Bridge CPU has memory bandwidth of 1600MHz and the integrated HD 4000 GPU (sharing system RAM) does benefit from faster memory.

The best approach, IMO, is to remove the stock 4GB and install 2 x 8GB.

 

16 months old thread resurrection?

While it's possible to use 1600Mhz RAM in W520 by downgrading BIOS (to 1.35 AFAIR) there is hardly any practical difference.

2x8GB is the best choice indeed, leaving the possibility to add more if needed.