Question Upgrading Storage and RAM for Lenovo Thinkpad X230

[TheWhizz]

Hello everyone,

I have an old device - a Lenovo Thinkpad X230 laptop which I've been using as a secondary device for casual browsing. It works really well for browsing and a little front-end coding, considering it has just 4 GB of RAM and 180 GB of SSD. Out of 180GB, I can only see and access around 90 GB of memory in the C drive, making it pretty useless to do anything else.

I don't have much experience upgrading with computer hardware, but I am trying to do lil DIY and upgrade the storage and ram. So the addition of 4 GB of RAM and upgrading to 1 TB of SSD. I am thinking about using it as a backup device for my photos/videos as well as casual browsing.

The current specs:

• Processor - Intel(R) Core (TM) i5-3320M CPU @ 2.60 GHz
• 180 GB SSD (model: SSDSC2BW180A3L)
• 4 GB RAM (Model: SK Hynix 4GB 2Rx8 PC3L-12800S-11-12-F3)

The planned upgrades.

• Additional 4 GB ram (making it 8GB in total). ( $14 AUD ) Product image.
• Samsung 870 QVO SATA III 2.5 inch SSD 1TB - L x W x H (10 x 7 x 0.7 cms). ( $90 AUD)

I am aware that compatibility requirements for products, such as the motherboard, may affect my choices, so I want to make sure I am on the right track and choosing the compatible product for my machine.

Few questions:

• Can this old machine handle 1 TB of Storage?
• I might be open to a 2 x 8GB ram config if it is going to add any significant improvements over 2 x 4 GB ram. Not sure if it is supported?
• My laptop needs a thin-line SSD. Some website show Samsung SSD's dimension as follows - 100 X 69.85 X 6.8 (mm). Not sure it is the same as the 7mm model.

Cheers!

 

[Bob.B]

Hello everyone,

I have an old device - a Lenovo Thinkpad X230 laptop which I've been using as a secondary device for casual browsing. It works really well for browsing and a little front-end coding, considering it has just 4 GB of RAM and 180 GB of SSD. Out of 180GB, I can only see and access around 90 GB of memory in the C drive, making it pretty useless to do anything else.

I don't have much experience upgrading with computer hardware, but I am trying to do lil DIY and upgrade the storage and ram. So the addition of 4 GB of RAM and upgrading to 1 TB of SSD. I am thinking about using it as a backup device for my photos/videos as well as casual browsing.

The current specs:

• Processor - Intel(R) Core (TM) i5-3320M CPU @ 2.60 GHz
• 180 GB SSD (model: SSDSC2BW180A3L)
• 4 GB RAM (Model: SK Hynix 4GB 2Rx8 PC3L-12800S-11-12-F3)

The planned upgrades.

• Additional 4 GB ram (making it 8GB in total). ( $14 AUD ) Product image.
• Samsung 870 QVO SATA III 2.5 inch SSD 1TB - L x W x H (10 x 7 x 0.7 cms). ( $90 AUD)

I am aware that compatibility requirements for products, such as the motherboard, may affect my choices, so I want to make sure I am on the right track and choosing the compatible product for my machine.

Few questions:

• Can this old machine handle 1 TB of Storage?
• I might be open to a 2 x 8GB ram config if it is going to add any significant improvements over 2 x 4 GB ram. Not sure if it is supported?
• My laptop needs a thin-line SSD. Some website show Samsung SSD's dimension as follows - 100 X 69.85 X 6.8 (mm). Not sure it is the same as the 7mm model.

Cheers!

Go here and run the scanner see what it shows.

Crucial

 

[TheWhizz]

Go here and run the scanner see what it shows.

Crucial

Thanks, I didn't know such utilities exist. Although they only show crucial products.

https://www.crucial.com/scanview/F50F23D131D926C3

 

[duboverture]

X230 user here.
You can easily upgrade it to 2x8 GB DDR3 RAM. I use Samsung PC3L 1600 MHz modules.
I don't know the answer if a 1TB drive is supported but can assure you a 7 mm one will fit. The 9 mm disk is barely too large.
Also, remember that you can add a second disk using an M-Sata port (at least if you don't need an internal cellular modem).

 

[TheWhizz]

X230 user here.
You can easily upgrade it to 2x8 GB DDR3 RAM. I use Samsung PC3L 1600 MHz modules.
I don't know the answer if a 1TB drive is supported but can assure you a 7 mm one will fit. The 9 mm disk is barely too large.
Also, remember that you can add a second disk using an M-Sata port (at least if you don't need an internal cellular modem).

Thanks for confirming.

I wasn't aware that adding a second disk was a possibility using an M-SATA port. It is not as easy as swapping the SSD but certainly worth trying.

 

[geofelt]

Adding 4gb or 8gb ram is likely to work.
But ram should be matched for proper operation.
I would consider a 2 x 4gb or a 2 x 8gb replacement.
Use the crucial specs of DDR3L 1600 SODIMM.
Intel is very tolerant of ram .

On the ssd, your upgrade is very easy using the Samsung SSD migration aid.
Instructions and app here:

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

semiconductor.samsung.com

To do the copy, buy a simple USB to sata adapter cable like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Exte...cphy=9011570&hvtargid=pla-1731411945996&psc=1
You use the app to copy your C drive to the new ssd.
When done, just replace the original ssd with the new one.
Depending on how much needs to be copied, it will take a ling time.
Perhaps 3 hours or more.
The process does not change the source drive.
I see no problem if the ssd is 1tb 2tb or even more.
The drive is a 7mm version

 

[TheWhizz]

Thanks all for your answers. I was able to get the SSD and Ram upgraded.
Cheers !