Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny (10FL/10FM) Upgrade Guide

Updated Oct. 27, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

The ThinkCentre M900 Tiny is a small machine, but it's unusually friendly to upgrades: nothing is soldered down. You can replace both memory modules, add up to two drives, and swap the CPU yourself. This guide explains what fits, what doesn't, and what to look out for before you buy. One caution before anything else: Lenovo's user guide and removal videos are shared across several chassis families (M700 Tiny, M900 Tiny, M900x Tiny). Parts are commonly shared with the M700 Tiny, so check your exact machine type (10FL or 10FM for the M900 Tiny) before ordering anything.

At a glance

  • RAM: 2 x DDR4 SO-DIMM, 32 GB max, DDR4-2133 (faster modules clock down)
  • Storage: 1 x 2.5-inch SATA (7 mm max) + 1 x M.2 (SATA or NVMe, 2242 or 2280)
  • CPU: socketed LGA1151, 6th Gen Skylake only, 35 W max - top part is the Core i7-6700T
2x DDR4 SO-DIMM (260-pin), 32 GB max2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 2133 MT/s
1x 2.5" SATA (7 mm) + 1x M.2 (2242/2280)2 × SSD / HDD M.2 2242 / M.2 2280 / SO-DIMM (SATA / NVMe) · max 7 mm thick
CPU (LGA1151) - 6th Gen Skylake, 35 W maxLGA1151 (6th/7th gen) · Ryzen 3000 · max 35 W
CPU · LGA1151max 35 W2 × SO-DIMM · DDR4up to 32 GB total1x 2.5" SATA (7 mm) + 1x M.2(2242/2280)2 × SSD / HDD M.2 2242 / M.2 2280 /SO-DIMM (SATA / NVMe) · max 7 mm thick
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

2015201720192021202320252027Today11 · Release · 2015
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 2015 Official Lenovo press release (2 Sep 2015): M900/M700/M600 Tiny 'available in selected countries from Q4 2015' (year is the finest precision allowed). Third-party (kakaku.com) reports Japan sales from late November 2015 (2015-11, estimate).
Source ↗

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Memory (RAM)

There are two 260-pin SO-DIMM slots on the system board, and both are socketed - no memory is soldered in. The platform is DDR4, non-ECC and unbuffered only; ECC or registered/buffered modules are not supported, and full-size desktop DIMMs simply won't fit.

The ceiling is 16 GB per module, for 32 GB total (2 x 16 GB). The board runs at DDR4-2133 and supports dual channel. Kingston states that faster memory clocks down to the optimal speed, so DDR4-2400/2666/3200 modules will work - just not at their rated speed. Kingston also says modules must be ordered and installed in pairs for dual channel, so a matched 2 x 8 GB kit gives you better performance than one 16 GB stick.

The module style matters. This is a Skylake-era platform, and while modern 2Rx8 16 GB modules generally work, some users report problems with very new high-density 1Rx16/1Rx8 parts. JEDEC DDR4-2133 CL15 modules are the safest bet. Kingston's list of 'compatible' 3200 MT/s modules doesn't mean the machine runs them at 3200 - it doesn't.

Buying tips

  • Buy 260-pin DDR4 SO-DIMM, 1.2 V, non-ECC, unbuffered - desktop DIMMs won't fit.
  • Order matched pairs (2 x 8 GB or 2 x 16 GB) for dual channel.
  • Cheapest reliable option: JEDEC DDR4-2133 CL15 modules. Faster RAM is fine but will run at 2133.

Cheapest compatible right now

See all compatible parts and prices →

Storage

You can run two drives at the same time: one 2.5-inch SATA drive and one M.2 SSD.

The 2.5-inch bay sits on a bracket with a single SATA data cable and supports SATA 6.0 Gb/s HDDs, SSHDs or SSDs. The important limit is height: only 7 mm drives fit the Tiny chassis, so standard 9.5 mm laptop hard drives won't. There's exactly one SATA connector on the board, so a second 2.5-inch drive isn't an option - you'd have to give up the first. Any 7 mm 2.5-inch SSD works as an upgrade today.

The M.2 slot on the system board accepts SATA or PCIe (NVMe) SSDs in 2242 or 2280 length. NVMe drives run at PCIe 3.0 x4 speeds, and booting from NVMe is supported. One caveat: Lenovo's spec sheet simply says 'M.2 SSD, PCIe or SATA interface' and doesn't list the lengths - the 2242/2280 support comes from Lenovo's service and replacement materials, so we can confirm those two lengths but not others. Some SKUs shipped without an M.2 drive, and if yours is one of them, the mounting screw/retainer may be missing from the slot.

Two things this machine doesn't have: there's no SD card reader, and the M.2 2230 slot used for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card is not usable for storage. If you want an optical drive, it has to be an external USB one.

Buying tips

  • For the 2.5-inch bay, check the drive is 7 mm thick before buying - 9.5 mm won't fit.
  • For the M.2 slot, a 2280 NVMe SSD is the fastest option; SATA M.2 and 2242 drives also work.
  • If your unit never had an M.2 drive, buy or source the mounting screw/retainer too.

Processor (CPU)

The CPU is socketed (LGA1151) on an Intel Q170 platform, so it can be replaced. Only 6th Gen Skylake processors are validated: Celeron and Pentium T-models, Core i3-6100T/6300T, Core i5-6400T/6500T/6600T, and the top part, the Core i7-6700T (4 cores/8 threads, 2.8/3.6 GHz, 8 MB cache, vPro).

Stay within 35 W. Every supported SKU is a low-power T-series chip, and the Tiny's cooling and power supply aren't validated for 65 W non-T desktop processors. Some of those physically fit the socket, but they're outside the machine's thermal and power envelope, so we don't recommend them.

Don't buy 7th Gen (Kaby Lake) or newer chips expecting them to work. Lenovo never validated them for the M900 - the M710 generation is the 7th Gen platform. Some users report Kaby Lake processors booting after a BIOS update, but it's unsupported and unreliable, and there's no guarantee of a successful POST.

Buying tips

  • Buy a 6th Gen Skylake T-series part (35 W) - the Core i7-6700T is the fastest supported CPU.
  • Avoid 65 W non-T desktop chips even though they fit the socket.
  • Avoid Kaby Lake (7th Gen) and later: not supported, and may not boot.

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up your data first.
  • Shut down fully and unplug the power cable and any peripherals.
  • Ground yourself to avoid static damage to the components.
  • Open the case - see the owner's manual for exact disassembly steps for your machine type.

Steps

  1. General upgrade procedure
    1. Back up everything you want to keep. 2. Power the machine off completely and unplug the power cable and peripherals. 3. Ground yourself before touching any internal parts. 4. Open the case. The owner's manual covers the exact procedure for your machine type, and Lenovo provides removal and replacement videos for the M900 Tiny. 5. Install the part. For memory, push each SO-DIMM into its slot until it seats. For the 2.5-inch drive, mount it on the bracket and connect the single SATA data cable. For an M.2 drive, fit it in the slot and secure it with the mounting screw/retainer - if your unit never shipped with an M.2 drive, this may be missing. For a CPU, place the new chip in the socket and refit the cooler. 6. Close the case, reconnect the power and peripherals, and switch on. 7. Check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new part - the total memory, the drives, and the CPU should all be recognised before you reinstall or restore your system.

Good to know

  • Confirm your machine type (10FL or 10FM) before ordering parts - the M900 Tiny shares documentation and some parts with the M700 Tiny.
  • Spec-sheet storage figures (500 GB/1 TB HDD, 120/256 GB SSD) describe factory configurations, not upgrade limits.
  • Lenovo's spec sheet doesn't list M.2 lengths; 2242/2280 support is documented in Lenovo's service and replacement materials.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the ThinkCentre M900 Tiny take?

32 GB total, using two 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMMs (260-pin, non-ECC, unbuffered). Both slots are socketed, so you can replace whatever is installed now.

Does the M900 Tiny support 3200 MHz RAM?

It accepts faster DDR4 modules, but the board runs DDR4-2133 - Kingston confirms faster memory clocks down. 3200 MT/s modules work, just at 2133. The safest match is JEDEC DDR4-2133 CL15.

Can I install an NVMe SSD in the M900 Tiny?

Yes. The M.2 slot supports SATA or PCIe (NVMe) SSDs in 2242 or 2280 length. NVMe drives run at PCIe 3.0 x4, and NVMe boot is supported. You can use it alongside a 2.5-inch drive.

Does the M900 Tiny support 7th Gen (Kaby Lake) CPUs?

No. Only 6th Gen Skylake processors are validated. Some users report Kaby Lake chips booting after a BIOS update, but it's unsupported and unreliable - the top supported CPU is the Core i7-6700T.

What size 2.5-inch drive fits?

Only 7 mm thick drives fit the Tiny chassis - standard 9.5 mm laptop hard drives won't. Any 7 mm SSD or HDD on the SATA 6.0 Gb/s interface works, and there's one bay with one SATA cable.

Does the M900 Tiny have an SD card reader?

No. The platform has no media reader. The M.2 2230 slot is reserved for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card and can't be used for storage.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.