Lenovo ThinkCentre M720s SFF Upgrade Guide: RAM, SSD and CPU

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RAM: four DDR4 slots, 64 GB validated

The M720s SFF has four 288-pin DDR4 UDIMM slots on the system board — standard desktop DIMMs, not laptop SO-DIMMs. Nothing is soldered, so all of your memory is upgradeable. The machine is dual-channel capable, and Lenovo validates up to 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) of DDR4-2666.

The type matters: you need non-ECC, unbuffered desktop DDR4. Server-style RDIMM or ECC registered memory will not work in this board.

How much can you install? 64 GB is the safe, officially validated figure. The memory controllers in the supported CPUs officially support 128 GB, so 4 x 32 GB modules may work — but Lenovo has not tested this configuration, and some sellers' pages contradict themselves (a generic '128 GB' graphic next to text that says the M720s supports 64 GB). Treat 64 GB as the number to plan around and consider 128 GB an unofficial experiment at your own risk.

Speed depends on the CPU. DDR4-2666 modules run at full speed with Core i5/i7/i9 processors, but Celeron, Pentium Gold and Core i3 chips (such as the i3-8100/9100) cap memory at 2400 MT/s. Faster RAM will simply run at the lower speed, so don't pay extra for speed your CPU can't use.

Buying tips: match the size and speed of what's already installed where you can, and install memory in matching pairs to get dual-channel performance. Some configurations ship with a single 8 GB stick, in which case adding a second, similar module is the cheapest way to speed things up. Mixing sizes (say 2 x 8 GB plus 2 x 4 GB) works, but matched pairs are recommended.

Kauftipps

• Buy non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 UDIMMs (288-pin) only
• 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) is the validated maximum; 128 GB is untested by Lenovo
• Check your CPU: Celeron/Pentium/i3 cap RAM at 2400 MT/s
• Install in matching pairs for dual-channel

Storage: up to three drives at once

The M720s can run up to three drives simultaneously: one main SATA bay that takes a 3.5" or 2.5" drive, an additional 2.5" SATA bay (optional or added at the factory), and one M.2 slot.

The main bay is SATA 6 Gb/s and is validated with hard drives up to 2 TB. The optional 2.5" bay is also SATA 6 Gb/s and validated with HDDs up to 1 TB or SSDs up to 256 GB. If your machine has the slim optical drive, that bay can be repurposed for a drive using a third-party caddy or bracket — Lenovo doesn't document it as a hard drive bay, so this is a DIY route.

The M.2 slot is the fastest option. An M.2 2280 drive runs at PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4, while the shorter M.2 2242 size runs at NVMe 3.0 x2. Lenovo validates M.2 drives up to 1 TB, and no SATA-protocol M.2 drives appear in the validated list — shop for NVMe drives to be safe. Note there is a second, separate M.2 slot for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card; it is not for storage.

Don't read the capacity numbers as hard limits. Figures like 2 TB for the 3.5" bay or 1 TB for M.2 are simply what Lenovo tested at the time; the SATA and NVMe interfaces themselves allow larger modern drives, which generally work. There is no RAID support on this model, so plan on running drives individually or using software mirroring if you want redundancy.

Buying tips: an NVMe M.2 2280 SSD gives you the biggest speed jump, especially as a boot drive. If you need bulk space, add a large SATA drive to the empty bay and keep the SSD for Windows and apps.

Kauftipps

• Get an NVMe M.2 2280 SSD for the fastest slot; the short 2242 size runs at half the lanes
• No SATA-protocol M.2 drives are listed — stick to NVMe
• Capacity limits in Lenovo's spec are tested figures, not hard caps
• No RAID support — plan accordingly

CPU: socketed LGA1151, 8th and 9th Gen Intel

The processor sits in an LGA1151 socket on an Intel B360 board, so it is replaceable. The supported list runs from Celeron and Pentium Gold chips up through 8th Gen (Coffee Lake) and 9th Gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) Core i3, i5, i7 and i9, topping out at the Core i9-9900 — a real upgrade path if your machine shipped with a lower-end chip.

Two limits shape what you can fit. First, the thermal design power: every validated part is a 65 W desktop chip. No 95 W unlocked K-series and no 35 W T-series processors appear on the support list, so stick to 65 W parts. Second, the generation: there is no support for 10th Gen or newer Intel CPUs, no matter the socket similarities.

Two more things to know. A BIOS update may be required before some 9th Gen CPUs are recognised, so check Lenovo's firmware updates and update before you swap the chip if you're moving to a newer generation. And beware of the F-series models such as the i5-9400F and i5-9500F: these have no integrated graphics, so if you install one you must also fit a discrete graphics card — which, in this 8.4 L low-profile chassis, means a half-height card under 147 mm long and 68.9 mm tall, with no auxiliary GPU power connector available.

Buying tips: a 9th Gen Core i7 or the i9-9900 is the top end of the supported range and will feel like a new machine alongside an SSD and more RAM. Prefer non-F chips unless you already have a suitable low-profile graphics card.

Kauftipps

• Only 65 W desktop parts are validated — no K-series or T-series
• 8th/9th Gen Intel only; 10th Gen and newer are not supported
• Update the BIOS before installing some 9th Gen CPUs
• Avoid F-series chips (9400F/9500F) unless you also have a low-profile GPU

So rüstest du auf

Bevor du startest

• Back up anything important
• Power off the machine and unplug the power cable
• Ground yourself to avoid static damage
• Open the case — the M720s has a toolless cover, and drives, the optical drive and add-in cards are also designed for toolless removal; check the owner's manual for the exact disassembly steps for your machine type
• Install the new part, close the case, reconnect power
• Start the machine and check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new part

Gut zu wissen

• Verify your machine type (MTM) before ordering parts — factory options vary between 10ST/10SU/10SV/10TR/10U6/10U7
• 64 GB is the validated RAM maximum; 128 GB (4 x 32 GB) is unofficial and untested by Lenovo
• RAM speed depends on the CPU: Celeron/Pentium/i3 cap memory at 2400 MT/s
• Drive capacity figures are tested limits, not hard caps
• No RAID support
• F-series CPUs have no integrated graphics and require a discrete, low-profile GPU
• Some regional documents pair the M720s with a Q370 chipset listing, but the M720s itself is B360 per Lenovo's PSREF spec

Häufig gestellte Fragen

How much RAM can the Lenovo ThinkCentre M720s take?

Lenovo validates up to 64 GB using four 16 GB DDR4 UDIMMs. Because the CPUs' memory controllers officially support 128 GB, 4 x 32 GB modules may work, but Lenovo has not tested this and it's outside the official spec.

Does the ThinkCentre M720s support NVMe SSDs?

Yes. The M.2 slot supports NVMe drives: an M.2 2280 runs at PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4, and an M.2 2242 runs at NVMe 3.0 x2. No SATA-protocol M.2 drives are listed as supported.

What CPU does the M720s SFF support?

It uses an LGA1151 socket on Intel B360 and accepts Celeron/Pentium Gold plus 8th and 9th Gen Core i3/i5/i7/i9 processors up to the Core i9-9900. Only 65 W desktop parts are validated, and there is no 10th Gen or newer support.

Does the M720s support ECC memory?

No. It requires non-ECC, unbuffered DDR4 UDIMMs. Registered or ECC server memory will not work.

Can I add a graphics card to the ThinkCentre M720s SFF?

There is a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, but the 8.4 L chassis only accepts low-profile cards under 147 mm long and 68.9 mm tall, and there is no auxiliary GPU power connector. Full-size cards will not fit.

Do I need a BIOS update to upgrade the CPU?

Possibly. Lenovo notes that a BIOS update may be needed for some 9th Gen processors, so check Lenovo's firmware downloads and update before swapping the chip.

Offizielle Dokumente und Referenzen

• PDF Lenovo ThinkCentre M720s User Guide & Hardware Maintenance Manual (PDF) — covers machine types 10ST/10SU/10SV/10TR/10U6/10U7, with slot and disassembly information.
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• PDF Lenovo PSREF — ThinkCentre M720 SFF specification sheet (PDF): memory, storage, expansion and CPU support details.
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• Lenovo PSREF — ThinkCentre M720 SFF model detail page (10ST00BEFP), useful for checking typical factory configurations.
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• Mr Memory — ThinkCentre M720s memory upgrade page, with module details (288-pin DDR4-2666, non-ECC) and pairing advice.
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• IT Devices — ThinkCentre M720s (10ST008MUS) spec listing, including socket/chipset and CPU memory-controller details.
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