Maximum memory for an Aspire 5 (A515-54G-71QV)
There seems to be some confusion about the maximum memory configuration for this laptop. It's a brand new model (core i7 10510U 10th gen) and it was available on the Acer website until very recently (the last few days) - now it doesn't seem to be available but nonetheless, I purchased one recently from a well known retailer in the UK.
There was never any information available anywhere on the Acer website including datasheets or user manuals that stated what the maximum memory can be. Online memory suppliers like crucial, Kingston and MrMemory all state that the maximum RAM for this laptop is 20GB, which is due to 4GB being soldered on board and the availability of a single SODIMM socket inside which can take a 16GB module.
Having read this I purchased a 16GB Kingston HyperX 2666 SODIMM and fitted it myself (anti-static precautions as I'm an electronics design engineer with over 30 years experience). All is well- the laptop boots fine, but only reports 16GB, not 20GB. Upon closer inspection, the SODIMM I took out of the laptop was in fact 8GB and constituted all of the memory in its purchased configuration of 8GB - there is no 4GB soldered on board.
As such, if all the memory this laptop can have is dictated by the single slot inside, what is the maximum capacity SODIMM I can fit? The 16GB module is working fine (huge speed gains reported by PCMark 10 of between 5% and 15% depending on the category). However, Acer wouldn't have limited the laptop capacity to 16GB would it? Surely it can take a 32GB module, can't it?
