Lenovo 530S Serviceability

[Euchrestalin]

I'm looking at purchasing the Lenovo Ideapad 530S (specifically part # 81EV000KUS). I would like to know if the SSD and RAM are removeable for future upgrades. Does anyone have experience with this model?

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I don't have experience with the model, but Lenovo is extremely good about releasing Hardware Maintenance Manuals for almost every model they produce. Go to https://pcsupport.lenovo.com and search for the laptop in question, and under that support area check the box on the left side specifically for Hardware Maintenance Manual and there should be something out there for it now. If the manual has a section for that component, dollars to doughnuts its removable.

 

[amd6502]

probably not easily. if the ram isn't soldered on, yes.

 

[amd6502]

It seems the trend in serviceability is really poor. I got an ideapad 300 series and the battery is now to my dismay integrated. The case isn't held together by screws, and is a pita to open up (esp without messing up the integrity of the plastic case), so it's a pita to upgrade that crappy 1tb 5400 slow drive.

The ideapad replaces a Z50 that held up for just under 3 years (some voltage regulator on the mainboard just blew). Not counting a lemon gateway, 3 years is the worst yet life span of my string of laptops. The z50 did weather quite a bit of traveling and a good number of hard drops, and it was cheap, so at a little over $100 a year it was still a decent value.

The new trend in substituting screws for plastic locks and integrating batteries is not something I'm going to go for again though. Next time shopping at the store, make sure the bottom of the laptop has lots of little phillips screws showing. The ideapad 300 was an impulse sub $300 buy, hopefully this one lasts over 3 years.

 

[ch33zw1z]

https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles_pub/530s-14ikb_530s-15ikb_530s-14arr_hmm_201805.pdf

Page 33 for base cover removal, page 46 to add a memory dimm.

What this tells me is there's likely memory built into the system board, and you can add 1 dimm later.

I service quite a few different laptops brands, Lenovo does a good job on *most* models wrt serviceability. This looks relatively easy to do.

Edit: always, ALWAYS, unplug the battery before removing or installing a dimm

 

[amd6502]

If you don't see screws on the bottom of the laptop, then you can assume it's not very serviceable. For some serviceability isn't important and for others it is. I'm definitely taking this into consideration next time around.

 

[ch33zw1z]

If you don't see screws on the bottom of the laptop, then you can assume it's not very serviceable. For some serviceability isn't important and for others it is. I'm definitely taking this into consideration next time around.

Not entirely accurate. I certainly prefer screws, but not having them isn't necessarily a show stopper. Some models just gotta pry it apart, with a plastic tool so you dont damage the plastic.

The 530s seems very serviceable, with 9 screws to free up the bottom cover

 

[amd6502]

Not entirely accurate. I certainly prefer screws, but not having them isn't necessarily a show stopper. Some models just gotta pry it apart, with a plastic tool so you dont damage the plastic.

The 530s seems very serviceable, with 9 screws to free up the bottom cover

Yup unfortunately my ideapad 300 series doesn't have screws! I can't stand prying that plastic apart. Everytime I do it the case gets that much weaker and closer to being done for.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Yup unfortunately my ideapad 300 series doesn't have screws! I can't stand prying that plastic apart. Everytime I do it the case gets that much weaker and closer to being done for.

Yep, the plastic snap together pieces only last so long

 

[amd6502]

Yep, the plastic snap together pieces only last so long

Well, I just got back from travel and now have access to my ideapad 320. It has screws on the bottom after all! However, the thing is there are no (easily) removable back panels meant for hdd or ram access. You pretty much have to take great care and minimize servicing (many/all? of) these newer ideapads:

https://youtu.be/sUKWZzrUH7Y?t=90

 

[ch33zw1z]

Well, I just got back from travel and now have access to my ideapad 320. It has screws on the bottom after all! However, the thing is there are no (easily) removable back panels meant for hdd or ram access. You pretty much have to take great care and minimize servicing (many/all? of) these newer ideapads:

https://youtu.be/sUKWZzrUH7Y?t=90

Ugh, that guys an animal; stand it on end like a tall "V", get a heavy guitar pick or a plastic mobile devices tool kit and just slide it around the seam until you start to pry it apart. He's likely to break the little plastic clips that hold the two pieces together.