Question HP laptop 15-f233wm memory upgrade?

Jul 13, 2022
4
0
10
I am trying to upgrade the RAM of an HP 15 series notebook. The laptop has a single SO-DIMM slot, with stock memory capacity of 4GB. HP offered an 8GB version, catalog P/N listed below. I bought what seems to be an equivalent 8GB stick, tossed it in, and got no boot. Laptop powers on (lights and fans) but screen stays black and both indicator lights stay on steady indefinitely. Power down, remove, reseat, repeat. Nothing. So I swap back to the original and it works fine again. Hmmm....
The stick I bought was from A-TECH. I have had good experiences with them in the past when I needed some older generation DIMMs to revive old hardware, though they seem to simply re-label various OEM cards and re-sell them? So, I called A-TECH customer service (actually a very pleasant experience) and they confirmed that it should be compatible and said it sounded like it was possibly damaged and they sent a replacement. The first one I got uses Hynix dyes but i'm not sure the rest of the branding, the second is a Samsung. Anyway, the second attempt gave the exact same result.
Now I'm thinking it may not be bad RAM and may be some other compatibility or BIOS issue. I checked for signal on the HDMI port and got nothing there either. Tried reseating them both multiple times. nothing. But the OEM RAM still consistently boots the computer just fine and without any problems seating. I booted into UEFI BIOS settings menu with the old RAM and to look for a possible setting to enable auto-detection of hardware changes but did not see anything. I cannot even access the BIOS menu with the new RAM to try a memory test.
So I have an old Lenovo ThinkPad T540p notebook running Windows 7 Professional that has two DDR3L SO-DIMM slots currently running a pair of 8GB PNYs (info below). I swapped these for the two A-TECH DIMMs and the Lenovo booted no issues!?! I also tried one of the PNYs in the HP and got nothing. I ran Piriform's "Speccy" on them all in the Lenovo and the timings and specs of the two A-TECHs seem to match the Kingston branded OEM stick exactly. So why does it not work???

I still have both DIMMs from A-TECH, I only have one paid envelope to either send the one back or both back and get a refund. So what do I do?

HP model 15-f233wm
OS=Windows 10 Home
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-notebook-pc-series/7527799/model/8857447

System board with Intel Celeron N3050 processor (eDP models)828168-001, -601

HP memory part numbers according to manual
Memory modules (PC3L, 12800, 1600-MHz):
2 GB memory module 691739-001
4 GB memory module 691740-001
8 GB memory module 693374-001

The new RAM is listed here. However, see the speccy results below as the two sticks they sent me were different

A-Tech 8GB DDR3L 1600 MHz SODIMM PC3L-12800 (PC3-12800) CL11 DDR3 2Rx8 1.35V Laptop RAM Memory Module

https://www.amazon.com/Tech-1600MHz-PC3L-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook/dp/B00C5389HQ

SPECCY RESULTS:

HP's OEM module
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer Kingston
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number HP16D3LS1KBGH/4G
Serial Number 319690879
Week/year 01 / 18
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V

PNY modules in Lenovo
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer PNY Electronics
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V

A-TECH module 1
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Unknown
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number S939A2SGS-ITR
Serial Number 3976200743
Week/year 16 / 22
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V

A-TECH module 2
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Samsung
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number M471B1G73DB0-YK0
Serial Number 942385973
Week/year 19 / 14
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
 
Last edited:
I am trying to upgrade the RAM of an HP 15 series notebook. The laptop has a single SO-DIMM slot, with stock memory capacity of 4GB. HP offered an 8GB version, catalog P/N listed below. I bought what seems to be an equivalent 8GB stick, tossed it in, and got no boot. Laptop powers on (lights and fans) but screen stays black and both indicator lights stay on steady indefinitely. Power down, remove, reseat, repeat. Nothing. So I swap back to the original and it works fine again. Hmmm....
The stick I bought was from A-TECH. I have had good experiences with them in the past when I needed some older generation DIMMs to revive old hardware, though they seem to simply re-label various OEM cards and re-sell them? So, I called A-TECH customer service (actually a very pleasant experience) and they confirmed that it should be compatible and said it sounded like it was possibly damaged and they sent a replacement. The first one I got uses Hynix dyes but i'm not sure the rest of the branding, the second is a Samsung. Anyway, the second attempt gave the exact same result.
Now I'm thinking it may not be bad RAM and may be some other compatibility or BIOS issue. I checked for signal on the HDMI port and got nothing there either. Tried reseating them both multiple times. nothing. But the OEM RAM still consistently boots the computer just fine and without any problems seating. I booted into UEFI BIOS settings menu with the old RAM and to look for a possible setting to enable auto-detection of hardware changes but did not see anything. I cannot even access the BIOS menu with the new RAM to try a memory test.
So I have an old Lenovo ThinkPad T540p notebook running Windows 7 Professional that has two DDR3L SO-DIMM slots currently running a pair of 8GB PNYs (info below). I swapped these for the two A-TECH DIMMs and the Lenovo booted no issues!?! I also tried one of the PNYs in the HP and got nothing. I ran Piriform's "Speccy" on them all in the Lenovo and the timings and specs of the two A-TECHs seem to match the Kingston branded OEM stick exactly. So why does it not work???

I still have both DIMMs from A-TECH, I only have one paid envelope to either send the one back or both back and get a refund. So what do I do?

HP model 15-f233wm
OS=Windows 10 Home
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-notebook-pc-series/7527799/model/8857447

System board with Intel Celeron N3050 processor (eDP models)828168-001, -601

HP memory part numbers according to manual
Memory modules (PC3L, 12800, 1600-MHz):
2 GB memory module 691739-001
4 GB memory module 691740-001
8 GB memory module 693374-001

The new RAM is listed here. However, see the speccy results below as the two sticks they sent me were different

A-Tech 8GB DDR3L 1600 MHz SODIMM PC3L-12800 (PC3-12800) CL11 DDR3 2Rx8 1.35V Laptop RAM Memory Module

https://www.amazon.com/Tech-1600MHz-PC3L-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook/dp/B00C5389HQ

SPECCY RESULTS:
HP's OEM module
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer Kingston
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number HP16D3LS1KBGH/4G
Serial Number 319690879
Week/year 01 / 18
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
PNY modules in Lenovo
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer PNY Electronics
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
A-TECH module 1
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Unknown
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number S939A2SGS-ITR
Serial Number 3976200743
Week/year 16 / 22
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
A-TECH module 2
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Samsung
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number M471B1G73DB0-YK0
Serial Number 942385973
Week/year 19 / 14
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
The hp works with a 4GB stick but not with a 8GB stick?

Look close at the slot for any damage.

If there is a bios bat try removing it for 15 mins.
Then reinstall the bat with a 8GB stick.
 
Jul 13, 2022
4
0
10
Sorry for the delay, the CMOS battery was not easy to access on this thing and I've been working in the field all week so I had not had a chance to try it. Got to it today, with no luck. Same thing, no boot with either 8GB stick, but I put the 4 GB one back and it booted right up. I got a warning saying the CMOS checksum was invalid and would be reset, then it booted to windows normally.
I did try a couple other things today before I went all the way through completely disassembling the notebook and removing the motherboard to access the CMOS battery. I found a couple posts in the HP forum claiming a similar issue. One was solved by a BIOS firmware update. There did appear to be a newer firmware available on the HP website even though their update utility claimed there were no available updates for my system.... Anyways, I installed the update, along with an update for the UEFI hardware diagnostics toolset, and still no love for the 8 GB sticks. I then tried disabling any security functions I could find in the BIOS setup menu but that did not work either.
 
Jul 13, 2022
4
0
10
Can someone make sense of the HP service manual for this notebook? It seems to contradict itself, saying things like:

"Supports up to 4 GB max system memory (DDR3L-1600 MHz module)
Supports the following system RAM configurations:
● 8192 MB (8192 MB×1 or 4096 MB×2)..."

bad math?

It also calls the SO-DIMM slot "non-user-accessible/serviceable" but then lists the memory module under "end user replaceable parts" two pages later.

And it looks like it may or may not support dual channel at full speeds? Something with the Celeron perhaps? I am thoroughly confused now.
 
Can someone make sense of the HP service manual for this notebook? It seems to contradict itself, saying things like:

"Supports up to 4 GB max system memory (DDR3L-1600 MHz module)
Supports the following system RAM configurations:
● 8192 MB (8192 MB×1 or 4096 MB×2)..."

bad math?

It also calls the SO-DIMM slot "non-user-accessible/serviceable" but then lists the memory module under "end user replaceable parts" two pages later.

And it looks like it may or may not support dual channel at full speeds? Something with the Celeron perhaps? I am thoroughly confused now.
Send the a-tech sticks back then go here.
https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/hp-15-f233wm

You can not have dual channel with just one stick of ram.

What bios version are you using?
 
Jul 13, 2022
4
0
10
This is the info from the HP download center for the updated firmware:

HP Firmware Pack (Intel Processors)
Type:
BIOS
Version:
F.45 Rev.A
Operating systems:
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Release date:
May 28, 2020
File name:
sp123555.exe
(17.0 MB)


And yes, sorry I was confusing dual channel and dual rank. And I will be returning the A-tech sticks. I have yet another 8GB stick I will try next time I make it in to the office. Unfortunately I'm not sure if that will be this week or next. Anyways, this one is supposedly OEM so fingers crossed it should work? It still seems so bizzare. I've done this many times before and I've never seen something like this. I'll keep you posted. Thank you
 
Last edited: