How one can improve RAM and SSD in Lenovo’s ThinkPad E14 Gen 5

The ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) noticed a reasonably important improve over the fourth-generation mannequin, notably bringing Dolby Atmos and Voice help, taller 16:10 show side ratio, bigger touchpad, and an additional USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) port. It is among the best enterprise laptops in the event you’re purchasing on a good price range.

One side that did not change from the final technology is the laptop computer’s upgradeability. Just like the fourth-gen fashions, the ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) has an accessible SODIMM slot and two accessible M.2 slots for reminiscence and storage upgrades after buy. With most of the finest Lenovo laptops ditching DIY upgradeability, it is good to see this ThinkPad holding robust.

Lenovo designed the laptop computer to have one reminiscence module — both 8GB or 16GB — soldered to the motherboard with one other slot free for as much as 32GB of additional RAM. That makes as much as 48GB of dual-channel RAM in whole, which needs to be greater than sufficient for many E14 customers. In the identical vein, the laptop computer has two accessible M.2 slots that may every deal with an M.2 2242 drive (smaller than the total 2280 drives).

This detailed information goals to stroll you thru the RAM and SSD improve course of, beginning with reminiscence.

How one can improve RAM within the ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5)

Upgrading the RAM in your ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) requires, at minimal, a Phillips-head screwdriver, pry instrument (one thing like a guitar choose can work, simply ensure it is comfortable sufficient to not harm the chassis), and a brand new module of SODIMM RAM.

The screwdriver and pry instrument could be sourced from one thing just like the iFixit Important toolkit. It runs about $30, and you’ll use it for virtually every other digital work. Anybody involved about static electrical energy may also need to choose up an anti-static wristband.

As for the RAM, the ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) comes with DDR4-3200MHz soldered, and also you get the identical in the event you get a mannequin with a SODIMM slot. With that in thoughts, I like to recommend some inexpensive and reliable RAM from Essential as an improve. An 8GB stick prices about $20, 16GB about $43, and 32GB for about $73.

Instruments you may want to finish the RAM improve

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) RAM improve steps

Now that you’ve got the SODIMM RAM module and the required instruments, you’ll be able to put together your laptop computer for the improve. Though we aren’t messing with the storage (but), it is at all times beneficial that you simply again up your knowledge. Whether or not it is by way of an exterior SSD or a cloud service like OneDrive, having your necessary recordsdata saved in a secondary location is at all times a good suggestion. Our information on the best way to again up your Home windows PC has some nice choices.

When you’re happy that the info is protected, energy off your laptop computer and take away any cables from the ports (together with the facility cable).

1. Unscrew the 7 fasteners on the underside panel utilizing a Phillips-head screwdriver. The screws are captive and can stay on the underside panel as soon as it is eliminated.

2. Pry up the backside panel utilizing a pry instrument. Begin at one nook and work your manner round.

3. Pry up the aluminum shroud overlaying the SODIMM RAM module. In case your mannequin would not have a RAM module within the SODIMM slot, skip to step 6.

4. Push the 2 steel arms out and away from the RAM module to free it for elimination.

5. Pull the RAM module out of the SODIMM slot at a few 25-degree angle. Don’t raise straight up, or you could harm the slot.

6. Slide the brand new RAM module into the slot at a few 25-degree angle.

7. Press down on the RAM module to lock it in place. The steel arms will slide into place on their very own.

8. Exchange the aluminum shroud. Make sure to correctly line up the enamel with the perimeters.

9. Exchange the backside panel and press right down to clip it again in place. Begin at one nook and work your manner round.

10. Screw within the 7 fasteners to complete the job.

Now you can energy on the laptop computer. Home windows ought to present that you simply now have a complete quantity of RAM equal to the soldered and SODIMM modules.

How one can improve the SSD within the ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5)

The ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) has two inner M.2 slots put aside for storage, and every slot can maintain as much as an M.2 2242 (measuring 22mm x 42mm) drive. That is smaller than the usual 2280 (measuring 22mm x 80mm) SSD we often see in laptops, although it would not appear to hamper the drive a lot. I examined the SSD efficiency in my ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) overview, discovering 5,088MB/s learn and three,987MB/s write speeds. Not unhealthy for a price range enterprise laptop computer. One caveat to notice is that just one M.2 slot runs the PCIe 4.0 customary. The opposite continues to be on PCIe 3.0.

Lenovo fills the M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot from the manufacturing facility, leaving the PCIe 3.0 slot free in your improve. In fact, you’ll be able to at all times swap out the PCIe 4.0 drive as properly so long as you are OK with both reinstalling Home windows or cloning the SSD.

As with the RAM improve, you may doubtless need to choose up a small electronics toolkit for the screwdriver and pry instrument. An anti-static wristband can be beneficial in the event you’re working in a dry setting with plenty of static, however it’s not completely obligatory. The principle piece of {hardware} required here’s a new M.2 2242 SSD. When you’re merely including storage to the ThinkPad E14, you should buy a PCIe 3.0 drive to go within the secondary slot. A PCIe 4.0 drive would additionally work due to backwards compatibility with PCIe 3.0, however the extra cash spent on the newer customary will not get you any quicker switch speeds.

When you’re changing the principle PCIe 4.0 drive that shipped with the laptop computer, you as a substitute have a couple of choices that I cowl within the subsequent part. Wanting on the {hardware} wanted for an improve, VisionTek’s DLX4 is a PCIe 4.0 drive with Opal 2.0 encryption. It is accessible in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. As for a PCIe 3.0 drive for the secondary slot, I like to recommend Sabrent’s Rocket Nano M.2 2242 SSD accessible in 512GB and 1TB capacities. These are each a few of the finest SSDs for the Lenovo Legion Go, however they’re additionally good for laptops.

Instruments you may want to finish the SSD improve

How one can again up and put together your knowledge

There are a couple of choices associated to backing up and making ready your ThinkPad E14’s knowledge earlier than the storage improve. As a baseline, I at all times suggest backing up your knowledge earlier than any DIY upgrades, whether or not that entails a top quality exterior SSD or a cloud service. When you’re merely including an additional drive to the ThinkPad’s M.2 PCIe 3.0 slot, again up your primary SSD’s necessary knowledge and proceed with the steps under.

When you’re changing the principle drive within the PCIe 4.0 slot, you could have a few choices. You’ll be able to reinstall Home windows on the brand new drive, then transfer your necessary recordsdata again onto the system’s contemporary SSD from an exterior drive or a cloud service. Our information on the best way to set up Home windows 11 on a brand new PC can get you thru this course of. Be aware that there are some steps required earlier than the bodily SSD improve, so you should definitely learn the separate information earlier than continuing right here.

If you would like to maintain the whole lot the identical because it was earlier than the SSD swap, cloning is your only option. You’ll be able to both set up the contemporary SSD within the empty secondary slot and carry out the cloning there, or you should buy an exterior SSD enclosure. You place the brand new SSD within the enclosure, hook it as much as the laptop computer by way of USB-C, and clone the outdated drive onto the brand new drive. This contains all settings and profiles and knowledge; your laptop computer ought to look the identical because it was earlier than the improve, albeit with extra storage. We’ve got a information on the best way to clone your SSD that can stroll you thru the required steps.

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) SSD improve steps

Now that you’ve got the required {hardware} and have both backed up or cloned knowledge, you will get into the precise steps required to improve the ThinkPad E14’s storage. Make sure to energy off your laptop computer and disconnect any cables earlier than continuing. Filter a well-lit workspace and put together a small receptacle to carry the smaller components that you simply take away.

1. Unscrew the 7 fasteners on the underside panel utilizing a Phillips-head screwdriver. The screws are captive and can stay on the underside panel.

2. Pry up the backside panel utilizing a pry instrument. Begin at one nook and work your manner round.

3. Unscrew the fastener holding the M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD in place. If you’re merely including an additional SSD to the secondary slot, unscrew the fastener subsequent to the empty M.2 slot and skip to step 5.

4. Pull the outdated SSD away from the M.2 slot at a few 10-degree angle. Don’t raise straight as much as forestall harm to the M.2 slot.

5. Insert the new SSD into the M.2 slot at a few 10-degree angle.

6. Screw within the fastener on the finish of the drive to carry it in place. It needs to be agency however not overtight.

7. Exchange the backside panel and apply stress across the edges to snap it again into place.

8. Exchange the 7 fasteners to finish the improve.

Now you can energy in your ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5). Those that selected to go along with a contemporary Home windows 11 set up can proceed with the method now. When you merely added a secondary SSD and do not see it acknowledged by the system, comply with our information on the best way to initialize an SSD in Home windows. And in the event you cloned and changed the first drive, the laptop computer ought to boot as regular with none adjustments past the additional storage capability.

I like the ThinkPad E14 (Gen 5) as a price range enterprise workhorse, however there are many different nice laptops in the marketplace. Take a look at our picks for one of the best upgradeable laptops for some added selection.