Lenovo ThinkPad P50 upgrade guide: RAM, storage and CPU

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

The ThinkPad P50 (machine types 20EN and 20EQ) is one of the friendlier workstation laptops to upgrade: all of its memory is socketed and it takes up to three drives at once. This guide covers what fits, the practical limits, and what to watch for before you buy. First, a quick warning: the thinner ThinkPad P50s is a different machine with soldered base memory and different storage options. Check that the label on the bottom says 20EN or 20EQ before you order anything.

At a glance

  • RAM: 4x DDR4 SO-DIMM sockets, up to 64 GB, fixed at 2133 MHz
  • Storage: 2x M.2 2280 (SATA or PCIe NVMe) plus 1x 2.5-inch 7 mm SATA bay, up to 3 drives at once
  • CPU: soldered to the system board - not upgradeable
  • ECC memory only works in the Xeon configurations
  • WWAN and WLAN have their own M.2 slots and do not take up storage bays
4x DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2133 MHz, 64 GB max4 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 64 GB total · 2133 MT/s
2x M.2 2280 + 1x 2.5" 7 mm SATA bay3 × SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick · up to 4 TB
4 × SO-DIMM · DDR4up to 64 GB total2x M.2 2280 + 1x 2.5" 7 mm SATA bay3 × SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick ·up to 4 TB
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

Standard support ended on 2022 (estimate).

201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027Today11 · Release · January 201622 · End of sale · 201733 · EOL · 201744 · EOSL · 2022
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 January 2016 Estimate First availability January 2016 (announced Q4 2015); third-party source, no Lenovo launch release retrieved. iFixit's 'January 23, 2017' figure disregarded as contradictory.
Source ↗
End of sale
No longer sold new by the manufacturer (Dell calls this 'End of Life', Lenovo 'Withdrawn').		 2017 Estimate PSREF marks the model 'Withdrawn' (Lenovo's end-of-sale marker) but exposes no withdrawal date on the retrieved page; 2017 inferred from the P51 successor and from the Nov-2016 PSREF PDF still listing 20EN models.
Source ↗
End of life (EOL)
The manufacturer stops developing the product: no new BIOS, firmware or driver releases.		 2017 Estimate Treated as coincident with end of sale (product/marketing EOL); no separate dated Lenovo statement retrieved.
Source ↗
End of standard support (EOSL)
Standard warranty and support contracts can no longer be renewed.		 2022 Estimate Derived, not a published per-model date: Annex B2 (P7.9/P7.10) commits to 5 years of spare parts and service after end of production (~2017).
Source ↗

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

RAM

What fits: unbuffered DDR4 SO-DIMMs. There are four sockets and none of the memory is soldered, so you can start from empty or add to whatever is already installed. The machine is dual-channel capable.

The limits: memory runs at 2133 MHz (PC4-17000) and cannot go faster - the platform is fixed at DDR4-2133, so DDR4-2400 or faster modules will simply run at their slower fallback speed. Lenovo validated 16 GB modules, giving a 64 GB ceiling in four sockets. 32 GB SO-DIMMs are not listed as supported for this machine, so if you want the maximum, plan on 4 x 16 GB.

Error-correcting (ECC) memory is the trickiest point. ECC or non-ECC modules physically fit, but ECC function is enabled only in the Xeon E3-1505M v5 and E3-1535M v5 configurations. If your P50 has a Core i7, buy standard non-ECC DDR4 - it is cheaper and does exactly the same job. Whether your machine has a Xeon or an i7, the modules must be unbuffered SO-DIMMs: registered or load-reduced server memory (RDIMM/LRDIMM) will not work.

Buying tips: match the module count to the sockets you have free (four sockets means four sticks for the full 64 GB); buy DDR4-2133 (PC4-17000) rather than paying for speed the machine will not use; and buy ECC only if you actually have a Xeon model.

Buying tips

  • Unbuffered DDR4 SO-DIMM only - no RDIMM or LRDIMM
  • DDR4-2133 (PC4-17000); faster RAM will be down-clocked
  • 4 x 16 GB for the 64 GB maximum; 32 GB modules are not validated
  • ECC only makes sense in the Xeon E3-1505M/1535M v5 configs; i7 owners should buy non-ECC

Storage

What fits: up to three drives at the same time. Two of the bays are M.2 2280 (80 mm) slots, and each accepts either a SATA 6 Gb/s drive or a PCIe NVMe drive (PCIe 3.0 x4, 32 Gb/s). The third bay is a standard 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s bay for a hard drive or SSD.

The limits: the 2.5-inch bay is 7 mm high - 9.5 mm and 12.5 mm drives will not fit. It is shock-mounted and uses a bracket, so if your machine arrived with only M.2 drives you may need the caddy and cable before you can install a 2.5-inch drive. Lenovo validated 1 TB per SSD and 2 TB in the hard drive bay, for 4 TB total across the three bays. Larger drives frequently work, but Lenovo has not validated them for this model.

RAID 0 and RAID 1 are supported, but only across the specific configurations Lenovo describes, and RAID needs the RST driver. If redundancy or striping matters to you, check the setup information in the BIOS and the manual before choosing which drives to buy.

Don't count the wrong things as storage slots. There is no optical drive in this machine. The 4-in-1 card reader is for removable SD/MMC media, not an internal drive. And the WWAN and WLAN modules use their own dedicated M.2 slots - adding mobile broadband does not eat a storage bay. Optional extras such as WWAN, the smart card reader and the fingerprint reader are model-specific, so check the MTM suffix of the exact machine you are buying.

Buying tips: pick M.2 2280 drives and check whether you want SATA or NVMe before ordering, since either type fits. For the 2.5-inch bay, insist on 7 mm height. Stay within 1 TB per SSD and 2 TB per hard drive if you want everything Lenovo has actually validated.

Buying tips

  • M.2 2280 (80 mm), SATA 6 Gb/s or PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4
  • 2.5-inch drives must be 7 mm thick
  • Up to three drives at once; think 4 TB (2+1+1) if you want validated capacities
  • Check for the 2.5-inch caddy and cable if the bay is empty

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up anything you care about first.
  • Shut the machine down fully and unplug the AC adapter.
  • Ground yourself to avoid static damage to the parts and the board.
  • Open the case and install the component.
  • Close the case, reconnect power and start the machine.
  • Check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new part and reports the capacity you expect.

Steps

  1. General outline for RAM and storage
    The outline above is the same whether you are adding memory or a drive. Take care seating SO-DIMMs and M.2 modules; they only go in one way and should not need force. If you are installing a 2.5-inch drive, remember the bay is 7 mm high and uses a shock-mounted bracket - if the bracket and cable are not already in the machine, get them before you start. For the exact screws, latches and removal order for your unit, use Lenovo's owner's guide and hardware maintenance manual; the disassembly sequence is model-specific and is not something to improvise.

Good to know

  • Some features (WWAN, smart card reader, fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard) are model-specific - confirm against the MTM suffix of the exact machine.
  • Capacities beyond Lenovo's validated limits often work, but they are unvalidated for this model.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Lenovo ThinkPad P50 take?

64 GB, in four DDR4 SO-DIMM sockets. Lenovo validated 16 GB modules, so the realistic maximum is 4 x 16 GB. There is no soldered memory to work around.

Does the ThinkPad P50 support ECC memory?

ECC and non-ECC SO-DIMMs both fit, but ECC function works only with the Xeon E3-1505M v5 and E3-1535M v5 configurations. On a Core i7 model, buy ordinary non-ECC DDR4. In all cases the modules must be unbuffered - registered server memory will not work.

Can I upgrade the CPU in a ThinkPad P50?

No. The processor is soldered to the system board and is not a user-replaceable part. The P50 was sold with Core i7-6700HQ, i7-6820HQ, Xeon E3-1505M v5 and E3-1535M v5 only.

Does the ThinkPad P50 support NVMe SSDs?

Yes. Both M.2 2280 slots accept either SATA 6 Gb/s or PCIe NVMe drives (PCIe 3.0 x4, 32 Gb/s).

How many drives can I install?

Up to three at once: two M.2 2280 drives plus one 2.5-inch SATA drive. Lenovo validated 1 TB per SSD and 2 TB for the hard drive bay. RAID 0 and RAID 1 are supported in specific configurations and need the RST driver.

Will DDR4-2666 or a 32 GB SO-DIMM work?

Faster DDR4 will run only at the platform's 2133 MHz speed, so it is not worth paying extra for. As for 32 GB SO-DIMMs, Lenovo has not listed them as supported for this machine; 16 GB modules are the validated option.

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.