ThinkPad E490 Ram and SSD upgrade? Compatibility Problems and Questions.

[vElectro]

Hello,

 

I am planning to buy a FreeDos ThinkPad E490 (i5 8265U, 8gb ram, 256 gb SSD) and upgrade the ram and ssd. The model I found is $761 and the model with 16gb ram and 512gb ssd is $937. I chose lower hardware because the other model has NVMe M.2 QLC 512gb SSD (1500/1000 mbs) so I am going to buy a NVMe M.2 TLC 512gb ssd (3500/2300 mbs), 16 gb ram (so I'll have 8+16 gb ram) and upgrade (upgrade will cost around $200). However, I have concern about some statements in "ThinkPad E490 Platform Specifications" and "E490 and R490 Hardware Maintenance Manual" which are:

Quote

HDD / SATA 6.0Gb/s, 2.5" wide, 7mm high, Active Protection System
M.2 2280 SSD / SATA 6.0Gb/s
M.2 2280 SSD / PCIe NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x 2
M.2 2242 SSD / PCIe NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x 2

ram support for:

Quote

32GB max / 2400MHz DDR4, dual-channel capable, two DDR4 SO-DIMM sockets
* Installed memory is actually 2666MHz but run at 2400MHz due to Intel limitation

and Hardware Maintenance Manual says:

Quote

If the computer is shipped with both an mSATA solid-state drive and a hard disk drive, the mSATA solid-state drive is used for the “cache” function and to support the Intel® Rapid Start Technology. It is recommended that users do not replace the mSATA solid-state drive by themselves. Otherwise, the “cache” function will not work and the Intel Rapid Start Technology cannot be used any more.

Here are the questions:

1. Should I buy 2666 MHz ram or 2400 MHz ram? I saw some people upgraded with 2400 MHz and/or 2666 MHz but it's confusing because it is written that "Installed memory is actually 2666MHz but run at 2400MHz due to Intel limitation" in platform specification. Is it going to be better compatible with 2666 MHz or 2400 MHz?

2. I am not sure if both model has "Intel® Rapid Start Technology" or optane technology. I am also not sure if I need these rapid start and optane technology after I upgrade the SSD with higher speed one. Do I really need "Intel® Rapid Start Technology" and optane technology? Is it better to have them and abandon higher speed TLC SSD?

3. SSDs that I am looking for are "NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x 4" (Adata XPG SX8200 Pro ASX8200PNP-512GT) but again platform specs says "NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x 2". Can E490 run x4 SSD or not? If so, is it going to be slower than actual specs? and how slow will it be?

4. Is it worth to buy the one with lower specification and upgrade or just buy the one with 512 GB SSD 16 GB ram and do not deal with the confusions and all headaches?

 

Resources:

• lenovo e490 hardware maintenance manual
• e490 platform specifications

[5x5]

The SSD will work fine. Almost all drives are okay. As for RAM, get 2400MHz.

[vElectro]

12 minutes ago, 5x5 said:

The SSD will work fine. Almost all drives are okay. As for RAM, get 2400MHz.

So what do you think about the default 2666 MHz ram? I was thinking maybe two 2666 MHz could run smooth at 2400 MHz and I could use 16GB 2666 MHz ram on better laptop in the future. But if you say go with 16GB 2400 MHz and default 8GB 2666MHz ram, it's okay.

 

It would be nice if you can be more clear and informative but still thanks!

[5x5]

4 minutes ago, vElectro said:

So what do you think about the default 2666 MHz ram? I was thinking maybe two 2666 MHz could run smooth at 2400 MHz and I could use 16GB 2666 MHz ram on better laptop in the future. But if you say go with 16GB 2400 MHz and default 8GB 2666MHz ram, it's okay.

 

It would be nice if you can be more clear and informative but still thanks!

If you can find it at a decent price, grab the faster RAM

[JerseyB]

what is price must be? 

[vElectro]

59 minutes ago, JerseyB said:

what is price must be? 

Which component do you refer? or the laptop?

 

I made a list of rams (must be sodimm and 16gb) I can buy based on availability, not the price:

* list order is random.

• HI-LEVEL HLV-SOPC21300D4/16G 16GB DDR4 2666Mhz
• Kingston 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 Ram KVR26S19D8/16
• HI-LEVEL NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 SOPC19200D4/16G
• Crucial Basics NTB CB16GS2400 4GB 2400MHz DDR4
• Crucial NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 CL17 CT16G4SFD824A
• Kingston NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 KVR24S17D8/16 Ram

And I made a list of m.2 SSDs I can buy based on availability and price:

* list ordered random

• Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB M.2 PCIe 3500-2300MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-512GT Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching
• Adata XPG Spectrix S40G 512GB speed up to 3500/3000M M.2 PCIe SSD AS40G-512GT-C Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching (I am not sure if it can fit to the board because it has something like shield on it)
• Adata XPG SX6000 Pro 512GB 2100MB-1500MB/s NVM 1.2 SSD ASX6000PNP-512GT-C Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching
• Adata XPG SX6000 Pro 1TB SX6000 Pro 2100MB/1500MBs PCIE M.2 NVMe SSD (ASX6000PNP-1TT-C) Gen3 x4, TLC NAND, SLC caching
• Kingston KC2000 500GB 3000MB/2000MB/s NVMe M.2 SSD (SKC2000M8/500G) x4 TLC
• Crucial P1 500GB 1,900 MB/s Read, 950 MB/s Write 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT500P1SSD8 Gen3 x4, TLC
• Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB M.2 PCIe 3500-3000MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-1TT-C Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC caching  (I am not sure if I can afford it right now)
• Adata XPG Gammix S11 Pro 512GB 3500-2300MB/s NVMe M.2 SSD (AGAMMIXS11P-512GTC) Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC Caching (I am not sure if it can fit to the board because it has something like shield on it)
• Sandisk Extreme Pro NVMe 500GB 3400MB-2500MB/s M.2 Nvme SSD (SDSSDXPM2-500G-G25) Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC buffer system

It would be nice if you can answer considering my third question (if possible, all). Thanks

[vElectro]

11 hours ago, vElectro said:

Which component do you refer? or the laptop?

 

I made a list of rams (must be sodimm and 16gb) I can buy based on availability, not the price:

* list order is random.

• HI-LEVEL HLV-SOPC21300D4/16G 16GB DDR4 2666Mhz
• Kingston 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 Ram KVR26S19D8/16
• HI-LEVEL NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 SOPC19200D4/16G
• Crucial Basics NTB CB16GS2400 4GB 2400MHz DDR4
• Crucial NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 CL17 CT16G4SFD824A
• Kingston NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 KVR24S17D8/16 Ram

And I made a list of m.2 SSDs I can buy based on availability and price:

* list ordered random

• Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB M.2 PCIe 3500-2300MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-512GT Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching
• Adata XPG Spectrix S40G 512GB speed up to 3500/3000M M.2 PCIe SSD AS40G-512GT-C Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching (I am not sure if it can fit to the board because it has something like shield on it)
• Adata XPG SX6000 Pro 512GB 2100MB-1500MB/s NVM 1.2 SSD ASX6000PNP-512GT-C Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching
• Adata XPG SX6000 Pro 1TB SX6000 Pro 2100MB/1500MBs PCIE M.2 NVMe SSD (ASX6000PNP-1TT-C) Gen3 x4, TLC NAND, SLC caching
• Kingston KC2000 500GB 3000MB/2000MB/s NVMe M.2 SSD (SKC2000M8/500G) x4 TLC
• Crucial P1 500GB 1,900 MB/s Read, 950 MB/s Write 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT500P1SSD8 Gen3 x4, TLC
• Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB M.2 PCIe 3500-3000MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-1TT-C Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC caching  (I am not sure if I can afford it right now)
• Adata XPG Gammix S11 Pro 512GB 3500-2300MB/s NVMe M.2 SSD (AGAMMIXS11P-512GTC) Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC Caching (I am not sure if it can fit to the board because it has something like shield on it)
• Sandisk Extreme Pro NVMe 500GB 3400MB-2500MB/s M.2 Nvme SSD (SDSSDXPM2-500G-G25) Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC buffer system

It would be nice if you can answer considering my third question (if possible, all). Thanks

 

13 hours ago, JerseyB said:

what is price must be? 

 

I think "Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB M.2 PCIe 3500-2300MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-512GT Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching" and "Kingston 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 Ram KVR26S19D8/16" seems fine but still cannot be sure if they are compatible with ThinkPad E490. If someone can enlighten me, I appreciate

[DoctorNick]

Just letting you know that the Intel i5-8265u supports 2133 or 2400mhz out of the box. If you want faster than that you need a XMP  memory kit to get it working at higher speeds. https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149088/intel-core-i5-8265u-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html

[vElectro]

7 minutes ago, DoctorNick said:

Just letting you know that the Intel i5-8265u supports 2133 or 2400mhz out of the box. If you want faster than that you need a XMP  memory kit to get it working at higher speeds. https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149088/intel-core-i5-8265u-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html

Thanks! so I'll go with "Kingston NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 KVR24S17D8/16".

 

But the thing is that Lenovo installed 2666MHz ram and I do not know why... It is kindda confusing and if I buy 2400 MHz ram, it will work with 2666 MHz (which is downgraded to 2400MHz).

 

So what about the SSD? I am planning to buy "Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB M.2 PCIe 3500-2300MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-512GT Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching" However, e490 platform specifications says that x2 bus is supported and also comes with "SK hynix m2 2242 pcie x2". Do you I can install the x4 one? Can E490 run with gen3x4 ssd? Thanks

[DoctorNick]

7 minutes ago, vElectro said:

Thanks! so I'll go with "Kingston NTB 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 KVR24S17D8/16".

 

But the thing is that Lenovo installed 2666MHz ram and I do not know why... It is kindda confusing and if I buy 2400 MHz ram, it will work with 2666 MHz (which is downgraded to 2400MHz).

 

So what about the SSD? I am planning to buy "Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB M.2 PCIe 3500-2300MB/s SSD ASX8200PNP-512GT Gen3 x4 TLC, SLC Caching" However, e490 platform specifications says that x2 bus is supported and also comes with "SK hynix m2 2242 pcie x2". Do you I can install the x4 one? Can E490 run with gen3x4 ssd? Thanks

Alright. Then they choose a kit with auto XMP. Can't find anything about max bandwith of the M.2 Slot in the E490- but the lenght is alright https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/e490_e495_hmm_en.pdf (page 71) - On intels website they specify the following configs with PCI-E 3.0: 

• PCI Express Revision 3.0
• PCI Express Configurations ^‡1x4, 2x2, 1x2+2x1 and 4x1
• Max # of PCI Express Lanes 16

 https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149088/intel-core-i5-8265u-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html

[vElectro]

28 minutes ago, DoctorNick said:

Alright. Then they choose a kit with auto XMP. Can't find anything about max bandwith of the M.2 Slot in the E490- but the lenght is alright https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/e490_e495_hmm_en.pdf (page 71) - On intels website they specify the following configs with PCI-E 3.0: 

• PCI Express Revision 3.0
• PCI Express Configurations ^‡1x4, 2x2, 1x2+2x1 and 4x1
• Max # of PCI Express Lanes 16

 https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149088/intel-core-i5-8265u-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html

XMP increases voltage, power consumption. Hence, I will go with 2400 MHz (Kingston ValueRAM 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 KVR24S17D8/16)

If any problem occurs between 8GB 2666mhz and 16GB 2400 MHz ram, I will go only with 16GB 2400MHz then. Still there are people saying go with 2666 MHz (without mentioning xmp).

 

For the ssd (Adata XPG SX8200 Pro), it is okay I think. It is gen 3 and i5-8265U supports 1 x4 bus. But the chipset/mainboard supports x2 bus. I guess (hope) gen3x4 will work fine with speed decrease...

 

I guess I'll never know without trying due to different answers

[DoctorNick]

11 minutes ago, vElectro said:

XMP increases voltage, power consumption. Hence, I will go with 2400 MHz (Kingston ValueRAM 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 KVR24S17D8/16)

If any problem occurs between 8GB 2666mhz and 16GB 2400 MHz ram, I will go only with 16GB 2400MHz then. Still there are people saying go with 2666 MHz (without mentioning xmp).

 

For the ssd (Adata XPG SX8200 Pro), it is okay I think. It is gen 3 and i5-8265U supports 1 x4 bus. But the chipset/mainboard supports x2 bus. I guess (hope) gen3x4 will work fine with speed decrease...

 

I guess I'll never know without trying due to different answers

Yeah it's kinda hard. But should work, maybe even at full speed if you have no dedicated GPU only iGPU. You could try asking Lenovo. XMP isn't always using 1.35v or higher, some sticks only use 1.2v, even with XMP. XMP just forces a profile to the motherboard.

[vElectro]

okay, I ordered E490, Adata XPG SX8200 Pro SSD and Kingston 16GB 2666MHz DDR4. I took the risk and I will just try. If it does not work, that will be waste of a lot money. If it does work, I will let the forum know the result. Thanks!

[vElectro]

22 minutes ago, vElectro said:

okay, I ordered E490, Adata XPG SX8200 Pro SSD and Kingston 16GB 2666MHz DDR4. I took the risk and I will just try. If it does not work, that will be waste of a lot money. If it does work, I will let the forum know the result. Thanks!

I found out that Adata XPG SX8200 Pro SSD has problems with linux so cancelled the ssd order. I'll find proper one.

[vElectro]

Okay, I made a research and end up in two ssd options:

• Kingston KC2000 500GB 3000MB/2000MB/s NVMe M.2 SSD (SKC2000M8/500G) x4 TLC
• Sandisk Extreme Pro NVMe 500GB 3400MB-2500MB/s M.2 Nvme SSD (SDSSDXPM2-500G-G25) Gen3 x4, TLC, SLC buffer system

Both are great and supports Linux well, unlike Adata XPG SX8200 Pro. I am going to order Kingston due to the fact that x4 will work at x2 speed and I will not be able to get Sandisk's speed. Furthermore, Kingston seems consuming less power and supports a full-security suite (opal 2.0, self encryption). That's why Kingston KC2000 seemed more appealing.

 

I'll let yal know after I try components. Thanks!

[vElectro]

Okay, I bought "Kingston KC2000 500GB 3000MB/2000MB/s NVMe M.2 SSD (SKC2000M8/500G) x4 TLC" and "Kingston 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 Ram KVR26S19D8/16". I installed them and they are running perfect. I did not need to change any bios settings for ram and ssd. I did some test on thinkpad for defauld ssd and kingston that I bought. I uploaded the photos of the original components, the mainboard and components I bought