How to open Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 (Intel) – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 (Intel) – disassembly and upgrade options

From: Anna Iorgova 01 January 2024 / 23:49 | 0

#CommissionsEarned

Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4

Processor: Intel Core i5-1345U
VideoCard: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 512GB SSD

Detailed review

$899^.00

View all results

Opening the Laptop

Undo the 10 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel of the laptop.
Eject the SIM card tray using a SIM eject tool or a small pin.
Use a plastic pry tool to gently separate the bottom panel from the chassis. Start from one corner and work your way around carefully.

Caution: Be gentle to avoid damaging the clips that hold the bottom panel in place.

Removing the Battery

Disconnect the battery connector from the mainboard by gently pulling it out with a plastic tool.
Undo the four Phillips-head screws that secure the battery to the chassis.
Lift the battery out of its compartment.

More info: The laptop comes with three battery options: a base model with a 46.5Wh unit, an optional 57Wh model, and a top model with a 63Wh capacity. The 57Wh variant offers up to 8 hours and 20 minutes of web browsing or 6 hours and 15 minutes of video playback.

Upgrading the RAM

Locate the two SODIMM slots next to the WWAN slot on the motherboard.
Remove any existing RAM by gently pulling the clips on each side of the RAM stick outward. The RAM will pop up and can be pulled out.
Insert the new DDR4-3200 MHz RAM modules into the slots at an angle, then push down until the clips lock them in place.

You can buy DDR4 RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

More info: The system supports up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 MHz RAM for future upgrades.

Upgrading the SSD

Locate the M.2 slot which is protected by a metal plate. Undo the screws holding the plate.
Remove the metal plate to expose the preinstalled NVMe SSD. Notice the thermal pads on the inside of the plate and on the motherboard.
Gently slide out the existing SSD.
Insert the new 2242 Gen 4 SSD into the slot and secure it with the screw. Ensure the thermal pads are properly aligned for optimal heat dissipation.

You can buy 2242 Gen 4 SSD modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

More info: The laptop has one M.2 slot for storage expansion, supporting 2242 Gen 4 SSDs.

Maintenance of the Cooling System

Locate the cooling system components – one fan, a pair of heat pipes, one heat sink, and a heat spreader.
Remove the screws securing the fan and heat sink to the motherboard.
Clean the fan and heat sink with compressed air. If replacing the thermal paste, clean the old paste off the CPU and the heat sink, then apply a new thin layer.
Reattach the fan and heat sink, ensuring that the screws are tightened securely.

Caution: Ensure the thermal paste is applied thinly and evenly to prevent overheating.

More info: Although not massive, the cooling system is deemed sufficient for a laptop equipped with an integrated GPU (iGPU), ensuring stable performance under normal usage.