How can you add more memmory than the processor can support?

[Mellelmejor]

Hi, lately I've seen many laptops and mini PCs, specially SoC that have more memmory than the processor can support. For example, the Atom X5-z8300 its said to support only 2 Gb of RAM, but I've seen system with 4 Gb.
How is this possible?
They can still put dual channel memmory if the processor only supports single channel?
Thanks in advance

 

[captaincharisma]

its not how much the processor can support but the motherboard. its always possible with laptops that the maximum amount of ram that can be installed can be increased with a BIOS update

 

[Mellelmejor]

its not how much the processor can support but the motherboard. its always possible with laptops that the maximum amount of ram that can be installed can be increased with a BIOS update

So why is Intel advertising the CPU as if it only could hold 2 Gb?
And what about the dual channel? Can you do that if the CPU only says to support single channel?

 

[k1114]

Memory control has been on the cpu for a long time, not mobo although mobo still plays a role. It's a newish cpu and no new dimm density was released so not bios update related. Might just be an error.

 

[unreal9400]

If Intel says it works in single channel mode then it is single channel.
It won't benefit from dual channel memory.
The reason for single channel memory is for lower power consumption.
Can you show me the laptop or mini pc that has such configuration?

 

[Mellelmejor]

If Intel says it works in single channel mode then it is single channel.
It won't benefit from dual channel memory.
The reason for single channel memory is for lower power consumption.
Can you show me the laptop or mini pc that has such configuration?

This one, for example.
http://www.onda-tablet.com/onda-obook-10-tablet.html
It has the atom X5-z8300

 

[Tradesman1]

Maybe it has the Z8500 Atom instead of the 8300 (the 8500 can handle 8GB) and they make tablets with both the 83 and 85 hundred

 

[k1114]

There's others with the 8300 and 4gb ram though. I think 4gb is the max and something got mixed up.