Sony Vaio Z13 upgrade to 16 GB RAM - Possible?

Hi there,

is it possible to upgrade the Z13 series to 16 GB RAM? Any concrete success-stories?

I've already searched for this but without success - except for the Z21 series.

Thanks,
Gordon

 

I doubt it, I know the Z11/12 are limited to 8GB by the motherboard, I doubt the Z13 is any different.

 

what for you need 16GB RAM - usually used max 4 GB

 

Memory SpecificationPC3-8500
Memory TypeDDR3 SDRAM
Memory Speed (MHz)1066
Max. Supported Memory (GB)8

 

I don't have the answer, but from the sound of the OP's post, he's looking for a very out-there kind of hack, moreso than the basic specs of the unit.

@Gordon298: true?

 

Thanks for your answers!

Your posts directed me in the "right" direction. Due to the official intel specs i7 640m supports max. 8gb ram.

@lovelaptops: Now I'm really looking for a kind of hack.

I'll try to find a local computer shop where I can eventually try some 2 x 8 gb modules. Although 8gb ram should be max due to the specs there seem to be older laptops outside (other brands) with up to 16 gb in case of the i7 640m.

@urgiv: I'm a software developer working a lot with VMs. So 16 gb would allow me to run 3-4 smoothly in parallel.

Thanks, Gordon

 

4GB isn't very much RAM anymore. I would consider that bare minimum. I run 8GB and still run out of memory. Even 5 years ago, I would have used every byte of 16GB.

 

That's what I would do. Many times a machine is only spec'd out to a max of something because the modules to test it out for more didn't exist when the specs are written. Later when the modules are available, it's found that the max was only theoretical.

 

I think you're right about this. Seems to me, for instance, the HP Elitebook 8560/8760s offer this with dual core SB cpus and, I'm fairly sure, they even offered it with the predecessor models, the 8540 and 8740, which were 2010 products with 1st gen Core i cpus. You may want to post on the HP Business Notebooks forum to ask if anyone knows how they achieve this. You'll no doubt find other examples as well, especially in workstation class laptops.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

I think it should be achievable as higher density RAM chips become available. The limitation is not in whether you can put 16 GB in and whether CPU will be able to address it. The issue is with CPU cache not being able to work with that much RAM, i.e. you get more RAM at somewhat (no idea how much) reduced RAM access performance. It may very well be worth it for you.

 

I would love to see a screenshot where you use more than 8gb for anything that a laptop can actually do.

 

pizdets, meet Gordon. Gordon, apparently pizdets thinks you are on a "fools errand" but not me - I'm too dumb to know if you are!

Just joking, but I think that's why Gordon, the OP, want the 16GB for his Z.

 

Hi there!

I've ordered 16gb from Amazon. Sadly 16gb are not working (up until now). I'll try it again after some driver and bios updates.

The system just hangs beginning with the win boot logo.

I'll keep you updated if I get it working.

Gordon

 

What does BIOS show in the first screen?

Because Intel itself says that 8GB is the max for the previous gen CPUs http://ark.intel.com/products/49666/Intel-Core-i7-640M-Processor-(4M-Cache-2_80-GHz)

 

Disappointing that there isn't a hack solution to this, but if you don't believe there is, pyr0, there must not be!

 

The hack is, use sandy bridge. 8 GB is very sufficient for now. And this I say as a power user (running 3+ VMs at a time, doing CAD - never got 8 GB fully utilized, and I deactivated my page file. Perhaps it's because I prefer a clean system that misses bloat and crapware, idling at a mere 58 processes). We will see the first 16 GB sony laptops with IB I guess. At least sony is to blame that they crippled the Z2 with a mere 8 GB maxed out (could handle 16 GB!) and this is not user replaceable. X220 ftw!

Insert your favorite Louche anti-Z1 comment here:

______________________________

 

Try putting in 8GB + 4GB and see if that works. Not perfect but still better than 4+4. I remember the "VGNZgate" (I believe) where 4+4 would not work due to crippled BIOS but 4+2 worked.

 

Thank you for your generosity. To add to the maturity, I never initiate, only retaliate - family name, and all (I descend from a long line of electronics-worshipers ). But now that you mention it, I had been giving him the occasional barb from months ago, when it all seemed friendly, when I would have expected him to jump in and defend civility. What is it about computer affcionados, anyway? I think this started when I called their baby - Sony - ugly![/quote]

 

I've tried Ubuntu Live CD and funnily the system boots with 4 + 8 gb ram (but not with 8 + 8 gb) and reports 11.6 gb ram. And everything seems to be stable.

In case of 8 + 8 gb the hacked bios version shows 6xxx gb ram. Ubuntu does not boot with 8 + 8 gb.

Windows just crashes during boot.

I I'll wait for a z-version with IB.

Thanks
Gordon

 

Rep added for refuting my claim that 8GB is the max (Intel says so).

Did you try both modules in combination with the 4GB module? Just in case one of the 8GB modules is defective and thats why prevents your machine from booting.

Would like to know if the system actually can use the full 12 GB, did you try memtest or something?

 

Good show, Gordon! +1 from me as well. I guess you could say I gave you the encouragement to forge ahead, having no idea if/how it could be done. I always support a pioneer.

As for you, Mr. pyr0, deeply disappointed. You, my can-do anything, never-met-a-hack-I-didn't-want-to-try champion. The worst: your reason for doubting it could be done - "Intel says so." I'm considering taking back one of the 17 reps I've given you. Another hero defrocked.

On another note: 58 processes! Any chance you would post a Task Manager list? I would love to try it, just to see the performance difference, also to have the config available to use when looking to goose performance. For everyday use, I get hooked on GUI-based third party controls which launch processes like they're popcorn. I'm a sucker for pre-programmed enhancing tools: eg, SRS Audio Essentials (which launches 4 processes!) to make the internal speakers barely listenable, instead of not at all. But lower level controls, eg, via BIOS hack, using arcane coding, are more satisfying.

 

Sounds like the bios has mapped some stuff > 12GB which causes a conflict when there is RAM there too. Could try to map out memory . Eg: try booting with 16GB but would have needed to previously limit memory to say 12GB via msconfig->Boot->Advanced Options->Maximum memory.

 

So you can boot into Linux with 12GB but not Windows?

Thanks for doing this!

 

Yes, I tried every possible 4/8gb module combination and order.

Good point memtest. I wanted to try this yesterday but didn't get it working from my usb stick. Now it works. Memtest reports 12 resp. 16 gb. Anyhow memtest crashes after some time.

 

Never heard before about this msconfig option. I've tried this but without any success. Thanks!

Anyhow... Even if this would work... Crashing memtest... What a bummer. 16gb would have been fine

 

Yes I was able to boot into Linux and to play around a little bit. Anyhow the crashing memtest tells me better not to do this.

 

Memtest crashes with 12GB ? Then I think it is true what Intel said - the memory controller on the Core-i CPU just can not address the higher amount of RAM properly. Probably when memtest reaches the 8GB limit, it throws errors and crashes. If memtest worked flawlessly on 12GB or more, I'd say that this memory config is safe for productive operation. Since it doesn't, the practical memory limit is 8GB for the core-i mobile first gen series.

 

Seems like people have been able to make it work on SB i7-920XM cpus on Alienware M15xs:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/635037-12-16-gb-ram-alienware-m15x-4.html

 

The M17xR2 can also take up to 16GB but it was pretty much only plug and play, not like the trouble you guys are having.

Maybe you can get some info out of it... 16GB RAM Works for M17x R2!!!

 

Anybody wanting to solve the issue as to why 12GB works and 16GB doesn't may want to explore the 12-16GB memory space using BarEdit, or dump it using , look for device strings, then look for the same devices in the bios, modding it with those devices moded above 16GB.

 

I don't know why this would matter, but the success people had with the Alienware m17x R2 had a quad core i7-940XM. Might that matter? Different Mobo for it?

 

The limitation could be in BIOS (Sony did this for VGN-Z where a new BIOS removed 6GB limit and allowed for 8GB of RAM). It is possible that CPU (especially 4-core) can handle more RAM than there was in original specs. For example, the 4-core CPU in ASUS N53 is rated for 8GB RAM maximum but can run 16GB albeit in single channel mode. Single channel because of the memory bandwidth limit and because of the CPU cache size (which is designed for caching certain amount of RAM). i7-940XM definitely has higher memory bandwidth (21GB/s vs 17GB/s with original Z1 CPU). Perhaps, that's what matters.

 

What I found is, that some Intel processors only support 8GB Ram (like the i5 2520, which would be in my Sony vpc-sa4 - needs 1 or 2 more weeks).
Only a quadcore would support more than 8 GB Ram.
I think, that linux does not check the possibility of more than 8 GB Ram and when the adress-range over 8GB is used, linux crashes. That could be the same reason, why memtest crashes.
So, if it is easy to change the cpu, may be, I will try it. But first, I have to wait till the notebook is in my hand
But may be, that the Bios also limits to 8GB, of course.
I hope, I could give you some helpful informations

 

@Blade: out of curiosity, if you are buying a new Sandy Bridge laptop and are interested in 16GB Ram, why not go with a comparably priced, say, Lenovo G series with a quad core cpu? Your ambitiousness is praiseworthy, but might you be doing it the hard way?

 

@lovelaptops:
I did not find any other Notebooks in 13" with a GPU, which is nearly as fast as an NVidia 540. And it should also have a DVD-burner.
With those specs, there are not many options
Are the Lenovo G also available in 13"?
Should be a cooling-problem, why in 13" is no quadcore available.
Why do I want do have this performance:
I need a few VMs running the same time. The processor should not be the problem, but the RAM. And copying the machines would be much faster with an SSD
By the way:
Is the Drive in the VPC-SA4 connected with SATA 2 (300) or with SATA 3 (600)?
If you compare USB 3.0 with eSATA, it's a pity, that no eSATA-port is available

 

Sorry, the Lenovo G series goes no smaller than 14" and you're right that a 13" is not likely to handle the heat of a quad core or the mid-high end graphics Lenovo puts in those machines. They do put DVDs in them though and they are quite well priced. Weight class is more 5-5.5 than the 3-4 of the 13" Sony Zs and Ss. As far as miniaturization of high powered components for laptops, your desires may not be achieveable in a 13" screen 1" form factor. Keep us posted here and good luck.

 

I'm not sure if I test it, but sounds nice And disabeling the turbo-mode could be the solution that the cooling is enough. Ore underclocking could help, but which notebook-bios does support such settings?
May be, Ivy Bridge can be built in, we will see. Because the Bios would be the problem again. And I can't imagine, that sony will update the Bios for Ivy Bridge in notebooks.
Dreamed enough, nice day

 

Hello Gordon,

First of all see: DDR3 laptop memory supported by Intel i7 Mobile processors

Secondly an explanation. Why the processor in your Z21 may indeed support 16GB I'm betting your laptop only features two memory slots?

Unless you know the number of memory slots then see: Where are the memory slots located in my laptop

Like I say I'm willing to bet it's two. What has very likely happened is at the time this laptop model was designed and thus released Sony engineers only had access to 4GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SODIMM's and hence could only test 8GB maximum, that is validate it's stable etc. Now that 8GB SODIMM's are available though expensive 16GB may well be in reach but it's not guaranteed nonetheless likely. Sadly there's no way to know for sure unless you or someone else only tests it and reports back. My guess is that it will work fine.

 

I'm sorry, but you're quite wrong. While Sony does have some part to play, the processor itself only supports up to 8GB of RAM. That means Intel can only assure proper memory addressing up to 8GB of RAM. Anything you add might result in memory errors since the CPU can't actually address it. And that is a hardware limitation that is baked into the CPU. The Z does not and will never run properly with more than 8GB of RAM. Why? Because the CPU just doesn't have enough addressing space. And there is nothing you can do about that.

 

I take it you've never heard or come across the difference between official specs and what works unofficially? When a manufacturer performs V&V they do so with the hardware that's available to them, 8GB DDR3 SODIMM's are only a recent phenomena.

 

a prime example is my Elitebook 8740w, and my x220, I have 32 gb on my first gen i7 elitebook ( 4 X 8 ) and my x220 says max of 8 in mfgr spec but runs 16 fantastic. we guess most specs are on paper before the 8 GB modules became available and were written as such.

alot if memory addressing and size issues are strictly mfgr BIOS's I have found

 

CPU support means maximum validated support of course.

Sometimes, the final "maximum supported memory" spec is just a hidden errata. However, much more often, the limit is a result of a design choice - for example, to save power by removing unnecessary lanes.

Then, on top of all that - there could be further limits such as those EFI limits already discovered (device I/O mapping, etc...).

The only way to be 100% sure is to actually test - unfortunately, this is also the most expensive way to tell.

 

True or you could always ask in a forum like this and get a suitable reply I was trying to raise the point that manufacturers are also just people and you shouldn't always take what they state at face value and instead think for yourself. Most often than not the people who provide such information on their products are low-level staff that just do what their superiors tell them. Even if you get a smart guy/gal in a team they'll be limited by what they're told to do, even though it would be helpful for the world if they elaborated on their test results. In this case it's rather a case of we tested with what as freely available...and here are our results.

And on the topic, not sure if any of you guys have noticed but now that 8GB SODIMM's are finally out and about Intel has actually gone back and re-validated many of its i series mobile processors and updated their spec finder pages to 16GB supported.

 

have been available over a year now, but have come WAY down in price the last 6 mos

 

Sorry, that's what I meant, they are out in higher volume and so it's not only easier to buy some but they've also become considerably cheaper. With the previous sky-high price they were at I don't think many buyers would even consider them 'available', unless they happened to be cash no object shoppers (i.e. max 5% of the population).

 

so the latest z doesnt support 16 gb?

 

dont quote me but I dont think any of the Z's did and AFIK from what I am reading occaionally the series is also discontinued.

 

Long ago bought two modules 2x8gb DDR3 1333Mhz PC-10600 sodimm for VPCZ1290, and they do not work in this model. At the same time, I found them in the old VPCF136, equipped with Intel-Core-i7-740QM

ARK | Intel® Core

and there they work fine, and the BIOS sees, and windows 16Gb,

why?

 

I have tried several Chips and can confirm that 16Gb is a no go It either does not post or Comes up with weird GB Statements on the RAM in BIOS I had recently upgraded my Z from 4GB to 8GB and the Performance gain is noticable. I also did a 8GB to 16GB on a HP Elitebook 840 G1, which is a very decent machine and Comes very vclose to the mighty Z I must say that I could not see any improvement in Performance. One woould surely Need specific applications to see the gain

Timiboy