[SOLVED] Upgrade T540p 20BE (I'm a newbie needing help)

[Barbados751]

Here is what I have:
• T540p 20BE, with Intel Core i5-4200M processor (2 cores, 2.50GHz, 3MB cache)
• Windows 8 Professional 64 - English
• 4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600MHz SODIMM Memory
• DVD Recordable Serial ATA

I have questions about three things. I realize these may be dumb questions, but thanks in advance for helping me out. I'm a newbie to upgrading a laptop.

1. I want to max out the RAM. Do I just order 2 sticks of PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600MHz SODIMM and plug these two into the two bays? Or, is it more complicated than this?

2. I want to replace the HDD with a solid state drive. What do I look for when I do this? In other words, do I just order any 2.5" SSD Sata-III drive? Or, is it more complcated than this? Help me understand what I need to order, to do this (what kind of SSD drive).

3. I want to install a second (one or two TB) hard drive in the DVD drive bay. Will any 2.5" HDD Sata-III hard drive work for this? And it looks like there are a number of drive-caddy options sold. Is one better than the others?

[Barbados751]

This is what I was considering for the RAM:

8GB DMS Certified Memory 204 Pin
DDR3L-1600 PC3-12800
1024x64 CL11 1.35V SODIMM

[Barbados751]

This is what I am considering for the SSD:

Samsung Electronics 840 EVO-Series 500GB
2.5-Inch SATA III
ingle Unit Version Internal Solid State Drive MZ-7TE500BW

[Barbados751]

I bought two Samsung Electronics 840 EVO-Series, the 1TB SSD and their 256GB SSD.

I found 2 8GB sticks of RAM on Amazon - Crucial 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR3/DDR3L 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
CL11 SODIMM 204-Pin 1.35V/1.5V Memory for Mac CT2C8G3S160BM. I know this says "for Mac" but a lot of people use this in Thinkpads, including the T540p and they are happy campers with it.

I saw the Newmodeus ad in this forum (for the drive caddy) and thought I'd just order one from them. It's on its way now, and I'll try to report back here about how it worked out. I was VERY pleased that they shipped the order out really really fast. Gotta like that.

This is going to be a dual boot Windows/Linux-Mint-17 laptop. Referb T540p's are pretty cheap now at the Lenovo outlet. It made it possible to have money left over for the two SSD drives (1TB and 256GB) and to max out the RAM at 16GBs. At least it sounded like a good idea this morning.....we'll see if the end result is any good

[RealBlackStuff]

A belated welcome to the Forum.
In case you are wondering about the lack of comments/help: Lenovo laptops from T430/T530/X230/W530 onwards are increasingly going down in popularity, due to unacceptable layout modifications, especially concerning screens, keyboards and palmrests.
They are no longer considered real ThinkPads.

[Barbados751]

A belated welcome to the Forum.
In case you are wondering about the lack of comments/help: Lenovo laptops from T430/T530/X230/W530 onwards are increasingly going down in popularity, due to unacceptable layout modifications, especially concerning screens, keyboards and palmrests.
They are no longer considered real ThinkPads.

Thanks for the welcome and info.
I understand the sentiment regarding the changes too. I've used many Thinkpads over the past 20 years and I'm not pleased with some of the newer compromises in design. Not at all. But, I came upon this T540p machine for a very low price - obscenely low. I needed a replacement laptop for my aging one. This low cost new machine will have a good setup for me - with the two solid state drives (a 1-TB SSD and a 256GB SSD) and with 16GB's of RAM. I (for years) have used a dual-boot Linux/Windows setup. Right now I use a Mint 17 operating system, along with Windows 8.1, and having this new laptop should be adequate for my needs, at a good price point.

The Lenovo outlet has the T540's for pretty darned cheap right now if you watch for a good deal and pounce on it when it comes. Thanks again for the welcome