Where is the second RAM slot on the Elitebook 8540w?

[JET78]

Hello, I have the Elitebook 8540w with the i5 processor and windows 7 Pro. I bought two 8gb cards to upgrade the ram, but can only find one slot with a ram stick in it. 

The manual says there are two slots for ram and it can be upgraded to 16gb. But the installation video only shows one slot under the keyboard. I figured there would be another slot somewhere once I opened it up and removed the keyboard. But there isn't. I also opened the compartment in the bottom where other laptops store their ram and there wasn't a slot.  My computer says there are 4gb ram installed on the computer. The one stick I did find was only 2gb, which means there is another 2gb stick somewhere. Does anyone know where and how to get at it? Thank you very much.

Best,

Jeremy

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Jeremy:

Below is the link to the service manual for your mobile workstation.

In addition to the memory module under the keyboard, there is an expansion memory module on the bottom of the PC.

Please read chapter 4 starting on page 60 for the expansion memory module R & R procedure.

http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.BINARYPORTLET/public/kb/docDisplay/resource.proc...

[JET78]

Thank you very much. I installed the RAM. Now it won't start up. I get an error. I just noticed that my new memory are 8gb, 1600 mhz sticks. The manual says it supports 2gb and 4gb sticks at 1600 mhz, but 8 gb sticks at 1333 mhz. Could that be the problem or does it usually just only go up to 1333 mhz and not take advantage of the fact that it is 1600 mhz?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

That is not the problem.

The problem is due to your mobile workstation having the i5 processor --  it only supports 2 x 4 GB of memory.

You have to have the i7 quad core in order for the PC to support 2 x 8 GB of memory.

Please refer to the link below, page 7, double asterisk.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13529_ca/13529_ca.PDF

I quote: 

** 8 GB SODIMMs are only supported on quad-core processors.

[JET78]

OK, thank you. I guess 8gb will have to do as I'm not feeling confident installing a new CPU.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Unfortunately, you just can't install a supported quad core processor in your notebook.

You would need to change the motherboard too.

Different motherboards are used in the 8540w (and other notebooks) for dual and quad core processors.