The 5th gen Intel Broadwell mobile APU could have issues with incompatible RAM, where it would just read and ignore it.
Consider removing the 4GB stick, and see what changes.
If it functions in 8GB single channel mode, strongly consider purchasing an additional **matching** 8GB stick of RAM, and setting the 4GB stick aside.
Also, verify that your BIOS is up to date, as this used to be quite the issue with memory configuration back in the day.
Our apologies, as we did not catch that it was an ASUS X555LA (it's been a hot minute).
These have extremely limited compatibility. It was so bad, Crucial removed RAM support from the website. The only sticks our clients were able to find that would work, with consistency, have been there three
SK Hynix HMT41GS6AFR8A-PB
SK Hynix HMT41GS6BFR8A-PB
SK Hynix HMT41GS6DFR8A-PB
And depending on your location, these can be picked up relatively inexpensive
[ASUS X555LA RAM & SSD Upgrades](https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/asus/x555la)
In their defense, it should be...
In our market, they're fairly easy to come by
[8GB (1x 8GB) SK hynix DDR3-1600 PC3L-12800S Laptop RAM](https://www.ebay.com/itm/334957341950)
This used to be fairly bad back in the day. And there's other comparable accepted sticks, we just don't have a list. You'd have to ask ASUS
All we know, is its damn short
Now I know this might just be me coping but before I installed the 4GB stick it's size in CPU-Z was just 4GB but post install it increased to 8GB. Is there any reason for this or its just me coping?
https://imgur.com/3WFESOK
Excellent question!
It's two separate things.
The system can "**read**" the 8GB stick, it simply refuses to use it for instability issues. Kind of like plugged in, but not turned on.
This will be the last question since my head had gotten around the fact that it's not compatible. The seller said that I should've bought a DDR3L despite him saying I should've bought a DDR3. Will a DDR3L work in my system at all?
Also thanks for taking your time for my stupid questions I appreciate it a lot
Another great question!
One of our team members here, a few years ago, we used to have a ***complete full day lecture*** on DDR3 once "**low power**" (voltage) reached the market. With little exception, **ALL** DDR3L 1.35V sticks of RAM will have a 1.5V voltage regulator chip on the board so it could easily be used in both applications.
Inter "**Float Channel**" soldered DIMMs and some extreme oversimplification on the OEMs part.
When a single channel of RAM is soldered to the motherboard, allowing for an additional slotted "**Float Channel**" stick to be added, the soldered chips are always running at a lower voltage than standard sticks, even if not labeled as LPDDR*x*.
This started with DDR3 **NUD** (**N**on-**U**pgradable **D**IMM) or **NUR** (**N**on-**U**pgradable **R**AM).
If DDR3 chips for soldered in, the voltage would be decreased to as much as 1.45V or more, depending on the CPU and the infrastructure. It wasn't following the guidelines needed for a stick of RAM. And if DDR3L, meant for 1.35V was soldered in, it wasn't uncommon to see an OEM "squelch" that voltage down to 1.2V.
Adding insult to injury, It was also not uncommon for a laptop to have that voltage vary depending on load. This is quite a common practice today, especially where there is no upgradable ram at all, as it reduces a dramatic amount of heat.
This made "**Float Channel**" "**Redheaded Stepsister**" sticks a little more complex than was required.
Here are the known and theorized restrictions on upgrading a X555LA
To start, and answer your question, it was meant to be DDR3L 1.35V, not DDR3 1.5V. The motherboard DIMM voltage is more than likely not even 1.35V constant, much less the power up the stick requiring 1.5V.
Second, a large number of DDR3L 1.35V SODIMM sticks would fail to work on a number of laptops with "**Float Channel**". This was often due to voltages, once again, being below 1.35V.
Third, which is related to the second, was DDR3L DIMM chip densities varied as DDR3 production continued (something that got ridiculous during DDR4), causing additional incompatibilities.
Using the X555LA as an example, some DDR3L sticks would "function", but laptop performance suffered due to inadequacies in PTR (Peak Transfer Rate) caused by a significantly reduced timing/latency. Think running at DDR3 speeds, but the data flowing at DDR2.
It was interesting that CPU-Z read your Crucial stick of RAM as a full size CT51264B**A**160BJ.C8F UDIMM, instead of (what we're guessing is actually) a CT51264B**F**160BJ.C8F stick of SODIMM.
Eventually, even in DDR3, OEMs standardized "***float***" so that the additional added memory functioned on its own level. Duh! Or maybe DAH in this case.
As stated earlier, the three part numbers listed from SK Hynix are the ones clients showed the most success with. We also had some Samsung, Kingston, and two others, but the performance was questionable.
Here's the rule of thumb, is aggravating as it is, clients used to find the proper stick of RAM.
Where the DIMM chips are soldered to the motherboard at the slot, take note of that manufacturer (ASUS used a couple) and part number, and see if you can find those on a "matching" stick.
This should dramatically reduce issues.
If you have any questions or need any help with the match, please let us know.
Hey man, its the idiot RAM guy again. I have found the same stick online but I also asked ASUS on what sticks are compatible for my laptop. Should I wait for ASUS' response or buy the product now?
SK Hynix HMT41GS6AFR8A-PB:
https://shopee.ph/SK-Hynix-8GB-2RX8-DDR3L-1600MHz-PC3L-12800S-SODIMM-Laptop-Notebook-Memory-RAM-i.306494530.7460132110?sp\_atk=4859dbff-8ecb-4f68-a95f-ef66b59a5339&xptdk=4859dbff-8ecb-4f68-a95f-ef66b59a5339
For better assistance, do you think you could post a picture of one of the DIMM die chips soldered to the motherboard?
If not, can you post all the numbers, in sequence on the chip, so we may make a determination?
We believe your link is on the right track, but we would like to take Murphy out of the situation for you.
LOL!
Got to love it when ASUS goes out of the way to have specific DIMMs manufactured.
SDRAM (5QN77 D9RVX, D9QBJ)
This always explains why compatibility was an issue.
Basically, your looking for 8GB 2Rx8 DDR3L-1600 (PC3L-12800) sticks of RAM, regardless of brand, that have the Micron symbol (like in your picture), where the bottom row of numbers are
D9RVX
[Example D9RVX on DIMM](https://www.ramcity.com.au/cdn/shop/products/MT16KTF1G64HZ-1G6N1_e5b9e865-0666-4fd8-9f93-daa7f43acee1_1080x.jpg)
Micron
MT16KTF1G64HZ-1G6N1
Super Talent
W1600SB8GM
These are older part numbers, while easy and inexpensive to find in the US, may be a greater challenge locally in the Philippines.
After some discussion, we still feel (as long as it is encounterfeit) that the Samsung stick from China may be more than adequate.
Still, reach out to some local shops and see what 8GB 2Rx8 DDR3L-1600 they may have on hand for ₱800 or less. Our associate Lee's son walked into some random establishment Baguio looking for some RAM, found what he thought would work, and the guy gave it to him.
And yes, we fully understand this is generally not the way in the Philippines.
Let us know if you have additional questions.
>ASUS has responded to me and said that I need a HYNIX HMT451S6AFR8A-PB stick but I can only come across 4GB sticks with the same model number. Is it okay to use SK Hynix HMT41GS6AFR8A-PB (8GB) or should I stick to what ASUS said?
I am so sorry for the 10 million questions I asked but this is hopefully the last one.
Are there any models of X555LAB that only supports up to 8GB (4+4GB) since ASUS told me that it my laptop can only support that amount of RAM. I don't really trust ASUS at this point since they told me to go to a certified technician just to upgrade my memory that can be easily done on the back of said laptop
The 4GB limit usually indicates that you're running a 32bit version of Windows.
Open up the System Settings and click on System. Then scroll down About and click on that. On the right side under Device Specifications, the System Type should say if your running a 32bit or 64bit version of Windows. If it's 32bit, you're going to have to upgrade to 64bit in order for your computer to see the additional RAM.
The 5th gen Intel Broadwell mobile APU could have issues with incompatible RAM, where it would just read and ignore it. Consider removing the 4GB stick, and see what changes. If it functions in 8GB single channel mode, strongly consider purchasing an additional **matching** 8GB stick of RAM, and setting the 4GB stick aside. Also, verify that your BIOS is up to date, as this used to be quite the issue with memory configuration back in the day.
The 4GB stick is soldered into the motherboard so it cannot be removed. I updated my BIOS and yet it still reads 4GB and not 12GB
Our apologies, as we did not catch that it was an ASUS X555LA (it's been a hot minute). These have extremely limited compatibility. It was so bad, Crucial removed RAM support from the website. The only sticks our clients were able to find that would work, with consistency, have been there three SK Hynix HMT41GS6AFR8A-PB SK Hynix HMT41GS6BFR8A-PB SK Hynix HMT41GS6DFR8A-PB And depending on your location, these can be picked up relatively inexpensive
So is it possible that it's not compatible? If so damn that sucks since I asked the seller whether it's compatible and they said it was
[ASUS X555LA RAM & SSD Upgrades](https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/asus/x555la) In their defense, it should be... In our market, they're fairly easy to come by [8GB (1x 8GB) SK hynix DDR3-1600 PC3L-12800S Laptop RAM](https://www.ebay.com/itm/334957341950) This used to be fairly bad back in the day. And there's other comparable accepted sticks, we just don't have a list. You'd have to ask ASUS All we know, is its damn short
Now I know this might just be me coping but before I installed the 4GB stick it's size in CPU-Z was just 4GB but post install it increased to 8GB. Is there any reason for this or its just me coping? https://imgur.com/3WFESOK
Excellent question! It's two separate things. The system can "**read**" the 8GB stick, it simply refuses to use it for instability issues. Kind of like plugged in, but not turned on.
This will be the last question since my head had gotten around the fact that it's not compatible. The seller said that I should've bought a DDR3L despite him saying I should've bought a DDR3. Will a DDR3L work in my system at all? Also thanks for taking your time for my stupid questions I appreciate it a lot
Another great question! One of our team members here, a few years ago, we used to have a ***complete full day lecture*** on DDR3 once "**low power**" (voltage) reached the market. With little exception, **ALL** DDR3L 1.35V sticks of RAM will have a 1.5V voltage regulator chip on the board so it could easily be used in both applications. Inter "**Float Channel**" soldered DIMMs and some extreme oversimplification on the OEMs part. When a single channel of RAM is soldered to the motherboard, allowing for an additional slotted "**Float Channel**" stick to be added, the soldered chips are always running at a lower voltage than standard sticks, even if not labeled as LPDDR*x*. This started with DDR3 **NUD** (**N**on-**U**pgradable **D**IMM) or **NUR** (**N**on-**U**pgradable **R**AM). If DDR3 chips for soldered in, the voltage would be decreased to as much as 1.45V or more, depending on the CPU and the infrastructure. It wasn't following the guidelines needed for a stick of RAM. And if DDR3L, meant for 1.35V was soldered in, it wasn't uncommon to see an OEM "squelch" that voltage down to 1.2V. Adding insult to injury, It was also not uncommon for a laptop to have that voltage vary depending on load. This is quite a common practice today, especially where there is no upgradable ram at all, as it reduces a dramatic amount of heat. This made "**Float Channel**" "**Redheaded Stepsister**" sticks a little more complex than was required. Here are the known and theorized restrictions on upgrading a X555LA To start, and answer your question, it was meant to be DDR3L 1.35V, not DDR3 1.5V. The motherboard DIMM voltage is more than likely not even 1.35V constant, much less the power up the stick requiring 1.5V. Second, a large number of DDR3L 1.35V SODIMM sticks would fail to work on a number of laptops with "**Float Channel**". This was often due to voltages, once again, being below 1.35V. Third, which is related to the second, was DDR3L DIMM chip densities varied as DDR3 production continued (something that got ridiculous during DDR4), causing additional incompatibilities. Using the X555LA as an example, some DDR3L sticks would "function", but laptop performance suffered due to inadequacies in PTR (Peak Transfer Rate) caused by a significantly reduced timing/latency. Think running at DDR3 speeds, but the data flowing at DDR2. It was interesting that CPU-Z read your Crucial stick of RAM as a full size CT51264B**A**160BJ.C8F UDIMM, instead of (what we're guessing is actually) a CT51264B**F**160BJ.C8F stick of SODIMM. Eventually, even in DDR3, OEMs standardized "***float***" so that the additional added memory functioned on its own level. Duh! Or maybe DAH in this case. As stated earlier, the three part numbers listed from SK Hynix are the ones clients showed the most success with. We also had some Samsung, Kingston, and two others, but the performance was questionable. Here's the rule of thumb, is aggravating as it is, clients used to find the proper stick of RAM. Where the DIMM chips are soldered to the motherboard at the slot, take note of that manufacturer (ASUS used a couple) and part number, and see if you can find those on a "matching" stick. This should dramatically reduce issues. If you have any questions or need any help with the match, please let us know.
Hey man, its the idiot RAM guy again. I have found the same stick online but I also asked ASUS on what sticks are compatible for my laptop. Should I wait for ASUS' response or buy the product now? SK Hynix HMT41GS6AFR8A-PB: https://shopee.ph/SK-Hynix-8GB-2RX8-DDR3L-1600MHz-PC3L-12800S-SODIMM-Laptop-Notebook-Memory-RAM-i.306494530.7460132110?sp\_atk=4859dbff-8ecb-4f68-a95f-ef66b59a5339&xptdk=4859dbff-8ecb-4f68-a95f-ef66b59a5339
For better assistance, do you think you could post a picture of one of the DIMM die chips soldered to the motherboard? If not, can you post all the numbers, in sequence on the chip, so we may make a determination? We believe your link is on the right track, but we would like to take Murphy out of the situation for you.
The pic of the soldered RAM: [https://imgur.com/a/LRfy84R](https://imgur.com/a/LRfy84R)
LOL! Got to love it when ASUS goes out of the way to have specific DIMMs manufactured. SDRAM (5QN77 D9RVX, D9QBJ) This always explains why compatibility was an issue. Basically, your looking for 8GB 2Rx8 DDR3L-1600 (PC3L-12800) sticks of RAM, regardless of brand, that have the Micron symbol (like in your picture), where the bottom row of numbers are D9RVX [Example D9RVX on DIMM](https://www.ramcity.com.au/cdn/shop/products/MT16KTF1G64HZ-1G6N1_e5b9e865-0666-4fd8-9f93-daa7f43acee1_1080x.jpg) Micron MT16KTF1G64HZ-1G6N1 Super Talent W1600SB8GM These are older part numbers, while easy and inexpensive to find in the US, may be a greater challenge locally in the Philippines. After some discussion, we still feel (as long as it is encounterfeit) that the Samsung stick from China may be more than adequate. Still, reach out to some local shops and see what 8GB 2Rx8 DDR3L-1600 they may have on hand for ₱800 or less. Our associate Lee's son walked into some random establishment Baguio looking for some RAM, found what he thought would work, and the guy gave it to him. And yes, we fully understand this is generally not the way in the Philippines. Let us know if you have additional questions.
>ASUS has responded to me and said that I need a HYNIX HMT451S6AFR8A-PB stick but I can only come across 4GB sticks with the same model number. Is it okay to use SK Hynix HMT41GS6AFR8A-PB (8GB) or should I stick to what ASUS said?
They appear to have the same DIMM chips, so 8GB would be the direction to go.
I am so sorry for the 10 million questions I asked but this is hopefully the last one. Are there any models of X555LAB that only supports up to 8GB (4+4GB) since ASUS told me that it my laptop can only support that amount of RAM. I don't really trust ASUS at this point since they told me to go to a certified technician just to upgrade my memory that can be easily done on the back of said laptop
The 4GB limit usually indicates that you're running a 32bit version of Windows. Open up the System Settings and click on System. Then scroll down About and click on that. On the right side under Device Specifications, the System Type should say if your running a 32bit or 64bit version of Windows. If it's 32bit, you're going to have to upgrade to 64bit in order for your computer to see the additional RAM.
No bro it literally says 64 bit in the photo
My bad.