Thinkpads Forum

I'd like to know if anyone here has done this, or used a 1x16gb DDR3 SODIMM module in a T520. I believe some 2nd-generation i7 CPU's will support up to 32gb, per Intel specifications. I've looked near and far on Google as to whether anybody has used one, or attempted to go over 16gb, but I could not find one. Recently, 1x16gb DDR3 modules have gone down really low enough in price to justify getting one.

I simulate network topologies in GNS3 as well as run several VM sessions, and I don't find it hard to max out my RAM allotment. Currently, I have 2x8gb modules installed in my T520, as well as an i7-2670qm which theoretically supports a maximum of 32gb RAM.

AFAIK there is another, similar post down the Classics/Tx20 section but these have the assumption that the owner has an i5 or non-quad core i7 unit (especially the T420 and X series).

Some i7 CPUs can indeed support up to 32GB RAM, but they have to be Quad-core CPUs.
The W520 with Quad i7 CPU has 4 RAM-slots and is good for 4x8GB=32GB RAM.
The T520 only has 2 RAM-slots.
If it also has a Quad i7 you might try those 16GB modules in that T520.

OTOH the W520 with Quad i7 and four RAM-slots will still only support 4x8GB=32GB but not 4x16GB=64GB.

I believe it might not work, the maximum per ram slot is 8gb, you need 4 slots for 32gb of ram on sandybridge.

Although no one actually tried it - as far as i know - to confirm that it will not work.

16GB modules will not work in T520 or T530 (or haswell) machines, only broadwell and newer systems. There was an anandtech article published some time ago that talked about a chipset limitation or something related.