Lenovo T430 Ram Slots

  • Comparison Criteria
    • Summary
    • memory
    • display details
    • peripherals
    • style attributes
    • general information
    • primary storage
    • networking
    • battery
    • processor
    • others
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Lenovo Thinkpad T430

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Lenovo Thinkpad T460

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Summary
User Rating
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performanceCore i5 3rd Gen-
storage320 GB HDD500 GB HDD
display14.0 Inches, 1600 X 90014.0' (35.56 cm) display, 1366 x 768 px
ram8 GB4 GB DDR3 RAM
ram typeDDR3DDR3
memory layout1 x 8 Gigabyte1 x 4 Gigabyte
memory slots2 DIMM2 SO-DIMM
expandable memory16 GB16 GB
capacity8 GB4 GB
display details
osWindows 7DOS
type64-
versionProfessional-
keyboardThinkPad Precision Keyboard6-row, spill-resistant, multimedia Fn keys
pointing deviceTouchpad with Multi-touch Gesture supportTrackPoint with multi-touch 3 buttons click pad
fingerprint scanner
optical driveMulti Burner/DVD CD Multi-Rec-
style attributes
display typeTFTLED
display resolution1600 x 9001366 x 768 Pixels
display touchscreen
dimensionswxhxd350.5 x 232 x 29.9 mm339 x 232 x 21.0 mm
display featuresActive Matrix TFT Color LCD DisplayHD Anti-glare 200 nits Display
display size14.0 Inches14.0 Inches (35.56 cm)
weight2.16 Kg1.7 Kg
colorsBlackBlack
brandLenovoLenovo
modelT430 (2350-1D3)T460 (20FMA07800)
primary storage
hdd speedrpm7200 RPM7200 RPM
hdd capacity320 GB500 GB
hdd typeSATASATA
secondary camrearfacing
ethernet type10/100/1000 BASE-T-
sound technologiesDolby Advanced Audio V2-
headphone jack
other networking options1 x Mini DisplayPort with audio-
audio solutionHD Audio SolutionHD Audio Solution
bluetooth version4.04.0
microphone jack
digital media reader-
video recording720p HD720p HD
wireless lan802.11 b/g/n802.11 b/g/n
vga port-
inbuilt microphone
bluetooth
usb 30 slots23
webcam
usb 20 slots2-
speakersStereo Speakers2W x 2 Speakers
ethernet portsnumbers1-
battery
battery life4 Hrs9 Hrs
battery typeLi-IonLi-Ion
battery cell6 Cell6 Cell
graphic processor variantHD 4000-
processor modelCore i5 3rd Gen-
clockspeed2.6 Ghz2.3 Ghz
processor makeIntel-
graphic processorIntel HD 4000Intel HD
processorIntel Core i5-3320MIntel Core i5-6200U (6th Gen)
graphic processor makeIntel-
processor variant3320M-
others
sales packageLaptop, Battery, AC Adapter, User GuideUltrabook, Battery, AC Adapter, User Guide
warranty1 Year3 Years
Price₹ 65,500₹ 67,410
DetailsFull Details »Full Details »

The oldest-model computer in my stable is a Lenovo ThinkPad T430 (pictured above). Released in 2012, it’s a business workhorse powered by a dual-core i5-3230M processor running at 2.6 GHz (suitable for writing TPS reports and even playing older 3D games) that’s still issued to worker bees at offices everywhere. I acquired mine in 2013 in lieu of payment owed to me from a deadbeat, and since then, it’s been performing yeoman service in its role as a backup machine for tasks that specially require Windows or Linux.

This short video shows you how to find and make use of both RAM slots of the T430s to upgrade the RAM, utilize dual channels, and how its very different from.

It came with a stock 4GB RAM, which has caused me to run into some limitations, especially with heavier-weight development tools such as Visual Studio and Android Studio, the video capture and recording tool Camtasia, and to a lesser extent, graphic design and audio tools. It was time for that most effective and universal of computer upgrades: more RAM!

Upgrade
  • DDR3 memory controller (up to 1600MHz), Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 (3.30GHz), HT technology 16GB max7 / PC3-MHz DDR3, non-parity, dual-channel capable, two 204-pin SO-DIMM sockets. System automatically clocks down for processors with 1333MHz DDR3 memory controller Some: DVD burner, 9.5mm Ultrabay slim, removable.
  • Memory module slot cover removal and installation - ThinkPad T430 and T430i.

The T430 takes two 1600 MHz PC3-12800 SO-DIMMs and supports up to 16GB memory. I ordered a pair on NewEgg for less than $100, which came with two-day free shipping. The DIMMs arrived via FedEx Friday morning, and like any geek with a new tech toy, I took out my set of teeny computer screwdrivers and got to work on installing them right after they arrived.

The first step was to remove the battery. ThinkPads from that era (I’m not certain about present-era ones) followed the old-school philosophy to batteries and kept them external and easily swapped out:

I remembered seeing a RAM upgrade on one of these computers years ago, so I knew that there was a RAM slot located on the bottom of the machine, just underneath the central panel…

…and only two screws stand between you and a RAM upgrade…

Lenovo t430 ram slots

…and until you realize that there’s just one RAM slot there. Upon seeing this, I looked around, confirmed that there was only one RAM slot under that panel, and then checked the online specs for the T430. It says two SO-DIMM slots. Where’s the other one?

Here’s the interesting thing about adding RAM to the T430: its two RAM slots are in quite different places with different levels of difficulty to access.

The second RAM slot — where the factory-installed RAM goes — is under the keyboard, and getting to it takes a little more work. My guess is that Lenovo’s engineers expected most users to buy a single DIMM to expand their machine’s RAM, and that they’d install it into the easier-to-access slot at the bottom of the machine.

Even if you have no plans to add or remove RAM from the more easily accessed underside, you still need to open the central panel at the bottom of the machine to access the RAM under the keyboard. That’s because there are two screws inside the central panel that you have to remove in order to get under the keyboard:

These two screws anchor the keyboard, and if they’re in place, you won’t be able to access the RAM slot underneath it.

When you’ve removed those two screws, you can remove the keyboard. Pry it up gently, starting with the edge closest to the trackpad. I used a metal ruler to help me with the process, taking care not to scratch the casing:

Upgrade

Lift the keyboard. You’ll see that it’s connected to the motherboard by a short strip of ribbon cable. There’s a thin piece of dark, slightly translucent plastic to the left of where the ribbon cable meets the motherboard; the RAM slot is underneath it:

To make it easier to pop in the RAM, I disconnected the keyboard. You might not have to do it in order to insert the RAM, but it was pretty easy:

Lenovo Thinkpad T430s Ram Upgrade

I flipped back the panel, where the factory-installed 4GB DIMM lived…

…and replaced it with the new 8GB DIMM.

Thinkpad T430 Memory Slots

With the RAM installed, I reversed my steps, fired up the ThinkPad, and checked my RAM the fun way: by asking Cortana using my voice. Here was her response:

Lenovo T430 Ram Slots

Lenovo T430 Ram Slots

Success! The ThinkPad is back in action, and ready for development work. In the short time with maxed-out RAM, I’ve found that Visual Studio, Android Studio, and Camtasia work wonderfully, and video performance is improved as well (my model has integrated graphics, which relies on system RAM).

Lenovo T440 Ram Slots

If you prefer a video walk-through of the ThinkPad T430 RAM upgrade procedure, try this one: