Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q Tiny upgrade guide: RAM, storage and CPU

Updated Oct. 13, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

The ThinkCentre M920q Tiny is a 1-litre desktop that is friendlier to upgrade than it looks. Nothing is soldered down: you get two memory slots, a 2.5-inch drive bay, an M.2 slot for an NVMe SSD and a socketed CPU. Below we explain what fits, where the limits are and what to watch out for before you buy. This guide covers the 1L Tiny (machine types 10RS, 10RT and the related 10RR, 10RU, 10SY, 10T1, 10T2, 10U8, 10V8) — the SFF and tower M920 models use different memory and drive bays, so don't mix their specs with this one.

At a glance

  • RAM: 2 x DDR4 SO-DIMM 260-pin, non-ECC unbuffered, up to 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) validated, DDR4-2666 with an i5/i7/i9.
  • Storage: one 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s bay (7 mm drives only) plus one M.2 2280/2242 NVMe slot — you can use both at once.
  • CPU: socketed LGA1151 (300-series/Q370), 8th or 9th Gen Intel, but only 35 W T-series parts; 9th Gen needs a recent BIOS.
2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM 260-pin2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 2666 MT/s
2.5" SATA 6 Gb/s bay (7 mm only)SSD / HDD 2.5" (SATA) · max 7 mm thick
M.2 slot (2242 x2 / 2280 x4 NVMe)SSD M.2 2242 / M.2 2280 (NVMe)
LGA1151v2 socket (35 W T-series)LGA1151 (8th/9th gen) · Core 8th gen, Core 9th gen · max 35 W
CPU · LGA1151 v2max 35 W2 × SO-DIMM · DDR4up to 32 GB total2.5" SATA 6 Gb/s bay (7 mm only)SSD / HDD 2.5" (SATA) · max 7 mm thickM.2 slot (2242 x2 /2280 x4 NVMe)SSD M.2 2242 / M.2 2280 (NVMe)
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

Standard support ended on Feb. 3, 2025.

2018201920202021202220232024202520262027Today11 · Release · 201822 · EOSL · Feb. 3, 2025
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 2018 Official Lenovo EMEA data sheet for the M920q Tiny is filed in the 2018 marketing archive (family release). Earliest PSREF per-machine 'Announce Date' for a 10RT/10RS build is 2019-11-26 (configuration/regional announce, not platform launch).
Source ↗
End of standard support (EOSL)
Standard warranty and support contracts can no longer be renewed.		 Feb. 3, 2025 Official PSREF 'End of Support', identical for all listed 10RS/10RT machine types (also shown on https://psref.lenovo.com/product/ThinkCentre/ThinkSmart_Edition_Tiny_M920q_for_Zoom_Rooms). Lenovo publishes only one support-end date, so this is also the end of any manufacturer support.
Source ↗

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

RAM: two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, 32 GB validated

The M920q has two 260-pin DDR4 SO-DIMM slots (DIMM1 and DIMM2 on the system board) and no soldered memory, so both sticks are replaceable. Use non-ECC, unbuffered DDR4 laptop-style modules only — registered and ECC memory is not supported.

Lenovo validates a maximum of 2 x 16 GB = 32 GB, based on the memory kits it tested at the time. If you already have one stick, add a matching one and populate DIMM1 first, then DIMM2.

Speed depends on the CPU. With an i5, i7 or i9 the memory runs at DDR4-2666; with a Celeron, Pentium or i3 the memory controller tops out and RAM runs at DDR4-2400. So don't pay extra for 2666 MT/s modules if your machine has a lower-end chip — they will simply be downclocked.

One open question we can't settle for you: 32 GB SO-DIMMs exist and 2 x 32 GB (64 GB) often works on this platform, but Lenovo does not validate it and it may depend on your BIOS version. Treat 64 GB as a gamble, not a supported upgrade.

Buying tips: buy DDR4 SO-DIMM 260-pin, non-ECC unbuffered, and match the two modules for dual-channel. 2666 MT/s is only worth it with an i5/i7/i9. Lenovo's own note is that its 32 GB figure reflects the memory it tested at the time — it's a validated limit, not necessarily a hard platform limit.

Buying tips

  • DDR4 SO-DIMM 260-pin, non-ECC unbuffered — nothing else fits.
  • Matched pair for dual-channel; install DIMM1 first.
  • 2666 MT/s only pays off with an i5/i7/i9; otherwise RAM runs at 2400.

Storage: one 2.5-inch SATA bay and one M.2 NVMe slot

There are two storage options and, unlike a lot of Tiny PCs, you can use both at the same time.

2.5-inch SATA bay. It's a SATA 6 Gb/s bay for an HDD (5400 or 7200 rpm) or a SATA SSD, but it only takes 7 mm z-height drives. A 9.5 mm drive will not fit — the chassis simply doesn't have the clearance, and Lenovo's own drives for this machine are 7 mm. If your unit came without a drive, check whether you also have the caddy/bracket and SATA cable: bare systems often lack them and you'll need the Lenovo mounting kit. Lenovo offered up to 1 TB HDD or 256 GB SSD, but those are shipped-configuration ceilings, not hardware limits — a bigger 2.5-inch SATA drive is fine.

M.2 NVMe slot. The slot accepts either an M.2 2242 module (PCIe 3.0 x2) or an M.2 2280 module (PCIe 3.0 x4, with Opal self-encrypting drive support). It is listed as PCIe NVMe only, so don't assume an M.2 SATA SSD will work — look for NVMe drives. Lenovo validated up to 1 TB, while 2 TB and larger drives work in practice for most owners. Note that Optane Memory M10 is not supported on Celeron/Pentium configurations.

Watch out for three traps. First, there is a separate M.2 slot for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card — it is not a storage slot and an SSD won't work there. Second, the 2.5-inch bay and the low-profile PCIe add-in card are mutually exclusive: fit a card and you lose the drive bay. Third, if you do add a PCIe card, the power adapter matters — 135 W with an add-in card, 90 W for i7/USB-C configurations, 65 W on the base config.

Buying tips: go NVMe M.2 2280 for the best speed (x4 lanes), pick a 7 mm 2.5-inch drive, and budget for the mounting kit if your unit is bare. Plan capacity up front — you only have one SATA port and one M.2 slot.

Buying tips

  • M.2 2280 NVMe is the fast option; 2242 NVMe also fits (fewer lanes).
  • 2.5-inch drives must be 7 mm thick; 9.5 mm won't fit.
  • Buy the caddy/bracket and SATA cable kit if the unit is bare, and remember a PCIe card disables this bay.

CPU: socketed LGA1151, 35 W T-series only

The processor sits in an LGA1151 (LGA1151v2) socket on Intel's Q370 300-series chipset and is genuinely replaceable — it's listed as a serviceable item in Lenovo's hardware maintenance manual.

What fits: 8th Gen (Coffee Lake) Celeron/Pentium/Core i3/i5/i7 and 9th Gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) Core i3/i5/i7/i9 parts, going up to the Core i9-9900T. Two things limit your choice. First, TDP: Lenovo specifies 35 W for the M920q, so only T-series chips are suitable. The 65 W capability belongs to the sibling M920x Tiny, not the q — and in this 1-litre chassis with its tiny cooler, sticking to 35 W parts is strongly advisable even though the socket might physically accept more. Second, the BIOS: 9th Gen support needs a sufficiently recent BIOS version. Update the firmware on your current CPU first, then verify the version before dropping in a 9th Gen chip. The original 2018 documentation lists only 8th Gen CPUs, while current Lenovo spec pages add 9th Gen up to the i9-9900T — that difference is a BIOS/refresh issue, so check your machine rather than trusting any single list.

Your CPU choice also affects memory speed: only i5/i7/i9 chips run DDR4-2666; everything else runs DDR4-2400. And note that more cores isn't automatically faster everywhere — the older Core i7-8700T has 6 cores/12 threads while the Core i7-9700T is 8 cores/8 threads, so the i7-8700T can be quicker in thread-heavy work.

Buying tips: T-series only, up to the Core i9-9900T; check and update the BIOS before a 9th Gen swap; and remember that the cooler is designed for 35 W.

Buying tips

  • Only 35 W T-series CPUs — the 65 W capability is the M920x, not the q.
  • Update and check the BIOS before fitting a 9th Gen chip.
  • An i5/i7/i9 unlock DDR4-2666; cheaper chips run memory at 2400.

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up anything you can't afford to lose.
  • Shut down fully and unplug the power adapter.
  • Ground yourself to avoid static damage to the parts.
  • Open the case and install the component (check the Lenovo owner's manual for the exact disassembly steps for your machine type).
  • Close the case and reconnect power.
  • Start the machine and check that the BIOS/firmware reports the new part and the expected capacity.

Steps

  1. Upgrading RAM
    Follow the general outline above. Once the case is open, note which slot is DIMM1 and populate it first, then DIMM2. Seat each SO-DIMM firmly in its slot and confirm in the BIOS that the total capacity is recognised.
  2. Adding or replacing an SSD
    Follow the general outline above. For the M.2 slot, decide whether you're fitting a 2280 or 2242 NVMe module before buying. For the 2.5-inch bay, make sure you have the caddy/bracket and SATA cable, and that the drive is 7 mm thick. The owner's manual has the exact steps for your machine type. Check the BIOS sees the drive, then install the operating system or clone your old disk.
  3. Swapping the CPU
    Update the BIOS first if you're moving to a 9th Gen chip — do that while the current CPU is still installed. Then follow the general outline above, remove the cooler and the old processor, and fit a 35 W T-series part on the LGA1151 socket. Because cooler mounting is easy to get wrong in a chassis this small, use the owner's manual for the exact procedure. Confirm the new CPU is reported correctly in the BIOS.

Good to know

  • The M920 Tiny specs published by Lenovo cover both the q and the x models, so double-check that any 65 W or add-in-card detail applies to your q before buying.
  • Capacities such as 1 TB HDD, 256 GB SATA SSD and 1 TB M.2 are what Lenovo shipped — the interfaces themselves are not limited to those sizes.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q Tiny take?

32 GB is Lenovo's validated maximum (2 x 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM). 2 x 32 GB (64 GB) often works on this platform but is not Lenovo-validated and may depend on your BIOS, so treat it as unconfirmed.

Does the M920q Tiny support DDR4-2666 memory?

Yes, but only with an i5, i7 or i9 processor. With a Celeron, Pentium or i3 the memory controller runs DDR4 at 2400 MT/s regardless of the modules you install. ECC and registered modules are not supported.

Can I use both a 2.5-inch drive and an M.2 SSD at the same time?

Yes — the 2.5-inch SATA bay and the M.2 NVMe slot work simultaneously. What you can't do is run the 2.5-inch drive together with a low-profile PCIe add-in card: the card disables the drive bay.

Does the M920q support M.2 SATA SSDs?

Don't assume so. The slot is documented as PCIe NVMe only, in 2242 (PCIe 3.0 x2) or 2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4) format. The other M.2 slot is for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card and won't take an SSD.

Can I upgrade the M920q CPU to a Core i9?

Yes, up to the 35 W Core i9-9900T — the CPU is socketed (LGA1151). 9th Gen chips need a recent BIOS, so update and verify the version before the swap. Only 35 W T-series parts are specified; 65 W CPUs belong to the M920x model.

How thick can the 2.5-inch drive be?

7 mm only. A 9.5 mm drive will not fit in the 1L chassis. Also check that your unit has the caddy/bracket and SATA cable — bare systems often ship without them.

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.