Does Dell n5420 with i7-3612QM and HM77 express chipset support 16gb RAM?

[Praneeth Konduri]

I am planning to buy a dell inspiron n5420 laptop(i7-3612QM,8GB, HM77 express chipset). Can it's RAM be upgraded to 16gb? Does the laptop support it? Experts, please respond soon on my query.

 

[breakfastdude]

Yes, you're good to go. The HM77 chipset does support 16GB of RAM, but notebooks usually have just two slots of RAM. So if you're buying the laptop with a 2x4GB configuration, you would have to replace both RAM modules with a 2x8 kit to up your total RAM capacity. On the other hand, if you're buying it preinstalled with 1x8GB, it still has one slot free and the upgrade will only entail you to buy another 8GB RAM module (if ever you find yourself going this route, try to match the new RAM module with the one preinstalled [make and model]).

 

[Praneeth Konduri]

Yes, you're good to go. The HM77 chipset does support 16GB of RAM, but notebooks usually have just two slots of RAM. So if you're buying the laptop with a 2x4GB configuration, you would have to replace both RAM modules with a 2x8 kit to up your total RAM capacity. On the other hand, if you're buying it preinstalled with 1x8GB, it still has one slot free and the upgrade will only entail you to buy another 8GB RAM module (if ever you find yourself going this route, try to match the new RAM module with the one preinstalled [make and model]).

Thanks for the prompt reply breakfastdude But, the seller in ebay, when contacted, said that it does not support 16gb and that it supports only 8gb of RAM. The information you provided seems very legitimate, but, he(ebay seller) just replied to my query today. I don't know what to decide 🙁 Please confirm once again about the answer you provided, it will be very generous of you.

 

[jhontiro]

I've bought the i7-3630qm to replace a i5-3210.

i have the same chipset (HM-77).

the system didnt booted.

today i asked to someone at the dell forum, and heard that there is not enough power to use this processor.

i would be glad to hear somenoe had sucess doing this upgrade.

 

[mayurya]

Ok, here is what I managed to do; and it should work fine with others too.

Purchased from the same eBay seller, with 4GB single slot, English+THAI keyboard layout in 40,000 INR [~660USD]

I'm not sure why there's difficulty in upgrading the RAM to 16GB (2x8GB) in DELL Inspiron N5420-V560114TH.

On the same day of delivery, I upgraded memory to 2 x Transcend SODIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz (JM1333KSH-8G). (costs 5K INR | 82USD each)

After a month, upgraded to 250GB Samsung SSD (840 EVO-Series / MZ-7TE250BW) [8K INR / 130USD]

# If anyone interested, here is the complete dump of hardware specification, http://pastebin.com/QS1ycz6K

* I personally didn't like battery life. weight and display quality (so this one is for everyday use and for traveling and all, macbook-air); apart from those things, this outperforms in terms of overall price (58,000 INR / 955 USD).

Hope this helps other users to transform 14" into a powerful beast from within

- mayurya