Update of RAM in HP EliteBook 820 G3 -- conflicting information from OS and specification

[quepas]

I would like to upgrade the memory RAM in my laptop (HP EliteBook 820 G3) from 16GB (2x8GB) to 32 (2x16GB). At first, I was excited as my Ubuntu 20.04 is telling me:

quepas@inas ~> sudo dmidecode --type memory                                                                                                                           (base) 
# dmidecode 3.2
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 2.7 present.

Handle 0x0005, DMI type 16, 23 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 32 GB
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Number Of Devices: 2

So 32GB max cap, right? However, after consulting the specification for the generic base model, it says only 16 GB of RAM memory is possible. So I have two questions:

1) As I couldn't find the exact specification for my product: L4Q19AV. Could it be, that there are some specialised models of the laptop (including mine) for which 32 GB is possible?

2) Why Ubuntu is saying 32 GB in the first place? Who is wrong and how is right?

Thanks for your help!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The service manual indicates the max memory is 2 x 8 GB for any model 820 G3.

See chapter 1.

HP EliteBook 828 G3 Notebook PCHP EliteBook 820 G3 Notebook PC Maintenance and Service Guide

I looked up the processors that could come with the model series and there no differences in how much memory the processors can support.

According to Intel, they can all support 2 x 16 GB of memory.

The only suggestion I can offer would be don't go out and buy 2 x 16 GB of memory.

Try one 16 GB memory chip first and add it to the existing one.

If the notebook boots up, runs fine, and reports 24 GB of memory, then it will be safe to replace the remaining 8 GB chip with a 16 GB chip.

If the PC can support 32 GB of memory, this would be the compatible memory chip I recommend...

Crucial RAM CT16G4SFD824A 16Go DDR4 2400 MHz CL17 Mémoire d’ordinateur Portable : Crucial: Amazon.fr...

After doing a search on the forum for 820 G3, 840 G3 and 850 G3 memory upgrade questions, I could not find anywhere someone has actually installed 2 x 16 GB of memory and reported the results.

[quepas]

Hi:

Thank you Paul for this detailed information. I guess, the only thing left is to make some tests! I will write how it goes in some time.

Best,

quepas

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Quepas.

Looking forward to reading about the results.

Your answer will help us to help anyone else that wants to do the same thing.

[quepas]

Hi Paul and the community,

I am happy to announce that the upgrade was successful and the computer works now with 32 GB.  I have tested the proposed by Paul memory chips: Crucial 32GB (2x16GB) SODIMM, DDR4, 2400 Mhz, CL17, 1.2V, CT2K16G4SFD824A.

Thank you Paul for all the help!

I am giving the detailed specification of my computer for future users:

HP EliteBook 820 G3

CPU:

> sudo lshw -class cpu
  *-cpu                     
       description: CPU
       product: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6600U CPU @ 2.60GHz
       vendor: Intel Corp.
       physical id: 4
       bus info: cpu@0
       version: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6600U CPU @ 2.60GHz
       serial: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
       slot: U3E1
       size: 2190MHz
       capacity: 4005MHz
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 100MHz
       capabilities: lm fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx pdpe1gb rdtscp x86-64 constant_tsc art arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc cpuid aperfmperf pni pclmulqdq dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx smx est tm2 ssse3 sdbg fma cx16 xtpr pdcm pcid sse4_1 sse4_2 x2apic movbe popcnt tsc_deadline_timer aes xsave avx f16c rdrand lahf_lm abm 3dnowprefetch cpuid_fault epb invpcid_single pti ssbd ibrs ibpb stibp tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid ept_ad fsgsbase tsc_adjust bmi1 hle avx2 smep bmi2 erms invpcid rtm mpx rdseed adx smap clflushopt intel_pt xsaveopt xsavec xgetbv1 xsaves dtherm arat pln pts hwp hwp_notify hwp_act_window hwp_epp md_clear flush_l1d cpufreq
       configuration: cores=2 enabledcores=2 threads=4

RAM:

> sudo lshw -class memory 
...
  *-memory
       description: System Memory
       physical id: 5
       slot: System board or motherboard
       size: 32GiB
     *-bank:0
          description: SODIMM DDR4 Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered) 2133 MHz (0,5 ns)
          product: CT16G4SFD824A.M16FR
          vendor: Unknown - [0x9B85]
          physical id: 0
          slot: Bottom-Slot 1(left)
          size: 16GiB
          width: 64 bits
          clock: 2133MHz (0.5ns)
     *-bank:1
          description: SODIMM DDR4 Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered) 2133 MHz (0,5 ns)
          product: CT16G4SFD824A.M16FR
          vendor: Unknown - [0x9B85]
          physical id: 1
          slot: Bottom-Slot 2(right)
          size: 16GiB
          width: 64 bits
          clock: 2133MHz (0.5ns)

Motherboard:

*-core
       description: Motherboard
       product: 807C
       vendor: HP
       physical id: 0
       version: KBC Version 85.6F

Good luck!

quepas

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance and thanks for letting us know that 32 GB of memory works in the HP Elitebook 820 G3.