The laptop is unable to recognize the soldered RAM.
The laptop is unable to recognize the soldered RAM.
You have a laptop with an ASUS X515, a Core i7 1165G7 processor, 4GB soldered RAM plus 8GB of RAM, and Intel XE Graphics. You replaced the 8GB RAM with a 16GB one to increase total capacity to 20GB. When you tried to boot, the laptop wouldn't start, so you suspected the new 16GB RAM might be faulty. After removing it, you put the 8GB back in and saw that Task Manager showed only 8GB instead of 12GB. The BIOS was detecting just the 8GB stick, not the 4GB soldered one. The 8GB stick is compatible with the same voltage as the failed 16GB model.
Consider checking for a BIOS update if the device isn't starting with the built-in RAM. If it doesn't power on, it could be due to static electricity during disassembly, and you won't be able to swap in replacement RAM modules directly. It might help to provide photos of both RAM sticks.
Since (as previously mentioned) you could have been exposed to an Electro Static Discharge.
https://blog.item24.com/en/esd-en/identi...icroscope/
Laptops often prefer single-rank versus dual-rank memory. Even with the right voltage and speed, the BIOS might not recognize the "rank" you're using. It's possible that installing a 16GB SODIMM could have damaged the existing 4GB soldered RAM.
Have you verified on the manufacturer's website (or the Kingston and Crucial sites) whether your BIOS supports 16GB SODIMMs and lists this model as the new module in the QVL? Or did you risk using unsupported RAM?
In the event things go wrong, you may have to settle for a maximum of 8GB, but the laptop will still function with the faulty 4GB RAM. If the device starts acting strangely, bring it to a professional repair service. Good luck.
The soldered RAM remains functional, maintaining its operation through the soldering process.
With only the soldered RAM installed, it doesn’t boot properly. Even if just the 16GB drive would suffice, and I had to skip the soldered RAM, I wouldn’t mind that, but I’m puzzled as to why the 16GB drive fails, since it works in other laptops without any issues. The 16GB model is: F4-3200C22S-16GRS. The 8GB model is: HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN. I checked the specifications for both, and they match perfectly except for the capacity difference. Even the timing and voltage settings are identical. There’s no reason it shouldn’t work unless the BIOS is limited to 16GB, which would be unusual for an 11th generation processor. I’m not sure... anything?
I concur that the Asus X515 is compatible with a 16GB DDR4-3200 SODIMM.
It appears among the choices available on Crucial and Kingston websites.
https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgra...ok-15-x515
https://www.kingstonmemoryshop.co.uk/lap...515-laptop
NOTEWORTHY. The Kingston page mentions their RAM for the X515 is single-rank.
If I’m interpreting this correctly, your Gskill RAM would be dual-rank:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Asustuf/comment..._good_ram/
Here’s the relevant part:
"G.Skill Ripjaws SO-DIMM 16GB (1 * 16GB) DDR4 3200 CL22-22-22-52 1.20V Laptop Memory RAM F4-3200C22S-16GRS.
It’s dual rank..."
My assumption is your ASUS X515 BIOS only allows single-rank RAM, while other devices might support dual-rank. That might explain why the Gskill module doesn’t fit in both machines.
I recommend testing a Kingston or Crucial single-rank 16GB SODIMM from the links provided and observing the outcome.
Laptops often have stricter RAM requirements than desktop systems, making compatibility checks essential.
Occasionally, higher capacity modules can fit inside a laptop beyond the advertised limit.
RAM module capacities tend to grow over time, but manufacturers rarely update their specs to match these changes. Whether you can exceed the stated maximum depends on the manufacturer’s discretion.
The CPU-world site indicates the i7-1165G7 can run with up to 64GB RAM, suggesting a 32GB SODIMM might be feasible.
Check forums for real-world examples:
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i7/Intel-Core i7 i7-1165G7.html
Integrated peripherals / components
Memory controller
Number of controllers: 1
Memory channels per controller: 2
Total memory channels: 2
Supported RAM types: DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267
When upgrading laptop memory, I rely on hope that the decision is correct. I’m glad it functions once installed, but I expect it might not work if not.
I haven’t encountered your issue with soldered RAM failing after installation.
https://www.cgdirector.com/single-rank-v...-rank-ram/