My i5-6200U CPU i5-ay012dx laptop doesn't seem to support 16GB of RAM.

[Nilho]

I have an i5 6200U 6th generation processor Notebook. The i5-ay012dx Maintenance & Service Manual indicates that only the i5 UMA model version can support 16GB. Memory manufacturers all appear to depict the i5-ay012dx laptop as supporting 16GB of RAM. I upgraded to 12GB and that works fine, but if I try to replace the upper 4GB RAM memory with an 8GB RAM the BIOS flags an error and the laptop won't boot. Both 8GB RAMs are an identical  PNY type.  I've tried reseating the memory a couple of times, but keep getting the BIOS error. I reinstall the 4GB RAM along with a single 8GB RAM and the laptop is back working with 12GB RAM. 

If the maintenance manual is correct that only the UMA model version supports 16GB, how can I tell if my laptop is a UMA or non-UMA version? At this point I'm not sure if I have a memory slot problem or my i5-ay012dx series laptop version is not a UMA version and will not support 16GB of RAM..

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I don't see any reason why your notebook won't support 2 x 8 GB of memory.

It has the Intel UMA (onboard) graphics adapter.

HP Notebook - 15-ay012dx (ENERGY STAR) Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

It might be that your notebook doesn't like the PNY memory you installed.

I also note a discrepancy with the link I posted above and the parts list with regard to what type of memory your notebook comes with.

The specs indicate DDR3L-1600 memory and the parts list indicates your notebook comes with a DDR4-2133 memory chip.

HP PartSurfer

You may want to try the memory that Crucial indicates is compatible with your notebook:

Crucial 8GB DDR4-2400 SODIMM | CT8G4SFS824A | Crucial.com

[Nilho]

I returned the two PNY 8GB RAM modules that created BIOS errors when populated as a pair and ordered Crucial brand RAMs. The Crucial technical support engineer was confident that their DDR4-2400 8GB modules will function properly in the HP 15-ay012dx laptop.

[Nilho]

I tried a pair of 8GB Crucial DDR4-2400 modules in my HP 15-012dx laptop and they spawn a boot error just like the 8GB PNY modules that I had originally purchased for a RAM upgrade to 16GB. I can only boot up with a single 8GB Crucial module plus the original 4GB module for a total of 12GB. Both 8GB Crucial modules boot up in a 12GB configuration. I still can’t figure out why my HP 15-ay012dx laptop won’t support two 8GB modules for a total of 16GB. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That's unfortunate the Crucial memory did the same thing.

It's a mystery to me too that the notebook won't run with 16 GB of memory.

[Nilho · Accepted solution]

I finally got a pair of 8GB RAM modules to boot properly without error in my HP 15-ay012dx laptop. Previously I could only install an 8GB and a 4GB module for 12GB. Each time I’d install two 8GB modules I’d incur a boot error and blank screen.

I contacted Crucial Customer Service about the problem. They told me to reopen the laptop, remove the rechargeable battery as well as the real time clock coin size battery for at least 15 minutes, then install the two 8GB modules and reassemble the laptop. After an extended startup period (3 - 4 minutes) of nothing seeming to be happening a message popped up indicating that the laptop would be restarting in the factory configuration. After the laptop rebooted I now have 16GB of RAM installed and working properly.