[Request] RAM limit unlock fix for Asus N56VZ Ivy Bridge

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Requests
1

Hi,

The laptop works fine with 2x8GB DDR3L.
I want to upgrade to 2x16GB DDR3L.
Unfortunately that didn’t work. It refuses to boot when using 2x16GB of RAM. Just a black screen. Also black screen if I only try 1x16GB
The official asus page says the limit is total 16 GB of RAM.
But the oficial intel page for the CPU says it can support up to 32 GB of RAM.

I’ve opened the N56VZAS.217 file with UEFItool
I can see it’s a AMI Aptio capsule and I found the following modules refering to memory:

I’ve tried finding a similar asus laptop model that supported 2x16GB of RAM but haven’t found a perfect match. So far I found two interesting ones.

The first is for K55VDAS411 which only supports 2x4GB-DDR3 (so half my laptop) and I can see:

They have the exact same size! I’ve extracted the bins and did a hex comparision.
The UpdateMemoryRecord only differ on the PE header (timestamp field).
But MemoryInit is a lot different. maybe 75% of it.

Initially I was hoping to find a byte value with the max amount of memory allowed but that fantasy is now shattered.
Then I wondered that maybe replacing those modules/functions in the bios could solve it, assuming I find a perfect match (a bios for a 2x16GB laptop).
I’ve also installed IDA and efiXplorer plugin and opened MemoryInit PE body. But I can’t conclude anything. The differences just keep on piling up.

The second bios of interest is for N752VXAS which supports 2x16GB… but this laptop use DDR4, while my laptop is DDR3L :frowning:

Which doesn’t even have a matching MemoryInit module. But looking from the size maybe the PlatformInitPreMem is equivalent to it.

Assuming the hardware is the same, would it even work copying the bios PE modules for memory init? Or is this idea a pipe dream?

What about if dealing with different memory type? DDR3L vs DDR4? SODIMM vs DIMM? … Asking because I haven’t found a matching hardware so far.

Any comments or suggestions?
Thanks for any help.

PS: I just found out about TOLUD register in the BIOS. Could this be the cause of the problem and patching it would fix it?

My laptop bios:
https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/N56VZ/N56VZAS217.zip?model=n56vz

Other bios I’ve tried to investigate:
https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/K55VD/K55VDAS411.zip?model=k55vd
https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/N752VX/N752VXAS303.zip?model=n752vx

2

does coreboot work on this machine ? try using autoport ?

3

HM76 north bridge chipset support 8 GB per channel (port) with 2133 MHz max frequency.

4

32GB of ram in 4x8GB configuration

i vaguely remember about this but i kinda remember that 16GB per dimm in normal consumer board is only for amd (a.k.a AMD only ram)?

5

That’s disappointing to read about that limitation :frowning:

I guess the good news is I won’t have to deal with messing up my bios image and dealing with a flasher.
Time to return the RAM and start saving for a new laptop then.

Thanks for the help

6

Can someone smart please help.

I’m trying to do the same thing as OP, but on a Vivobook Pro (k6502vu) i9 13900h, on paper it seems it should work but when i place the new DDR5 32GB ram stick in, i won’t POST, there is just a black screen for hours, the fans are spinning and the keyboard is lit.

I updated the BIOS with “BIOS for ASUS EZ Flash Utility”, i also tried unhooking the battery and holding power button hoping that might reset something, but no dice.

I think there might be some kind of check before it boots up.

At first i was looking into coreboot/TianoCore/libreboot, but on a newer system, especially a laptop, it doesn’t seem that easy to flash, and i’m thinking purchasing a physical/external bios flasher and trying that should be my last resort.

Hopefully you can shed some light and tell me if even that would work.

dmidecode --type memory

# dmidecode 3.5
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 3.5.0 present.

Handle 0x0027, DMI type 16, 23 bytes
Physical Memory Array
    Location: System Board Or Motherboard
    Use: System Memory
    Error Correction Type: None
    Maximum Capacity: 64 GB
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Number Of Devices: 2

Handle 0x0028, DMI type 17, 92 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0027
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 8 GB
    Form Factor: SODIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: Controller0-ChannelA-DIMM0
    Bank Locator: BANK 0
    Type: DDR5
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: 4800 MT/s
    Manufacturer: Samsung
    Serial Number: 43A725D5
    Asset Tag: 9876543210
    Part Number: M425R1GB4BB0-CQKOL  
    Rank: 1
    Configured Memory Speed: 4800 MT/s
    Minimum Voltage: 1.1 V
    Maximum Voltage: 1.1 V
    Configured Voltage: 1.1 V
    Memory Technology: DRAM
    Memory Operating Mode Capability: Volatile memory
    Firmware Version: Not Specified
    Module Manufacturer ID: Bank 1, Hex 0xCE
    Module Product ID: Unknown
    Memory Subsystem Controller Manufacturer ID: Unknown
    Memory Subsystem Controller Product ID: Unknown
    Non-Volatile Size: None
    Volatile Size: 8 GB
    Cache Size: None
    Logical Size: None

Handle 0x0029, DMI type 17, 92 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0027
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 8 GB
    Form Factor: SODIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: Controller1-ChannelA
    Bank Locator: BANK 0
    Type: DDR5
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: 4800 MT/s
    Manufacturer: Micron Technology
    Serial Number: 00000000
    Asset Tag: 9876543210
    Part Number: MTC4C10163S1SC48BA1
    Rank: 1
    Configured Memory Speed: 4800 MT/s
    Minimum Voltage: 1.1 V
    Maximum Voltage: 1.1 V
    Configured Voltage: 1.1 V
    Memory Technology: DRAM
    Memory Operating Mode Capability: Volatile memory
    Firmware Version: Not Specified
    Module Manufacturer ID: Bank 1, Hex 0x2C
    Module Product ID: Unknown
    Memory Subsystem Controller Manufacturer ID: Unknown
    Memory Subsystem Controller Product ID: Unknown
    Non-Volatile Size: None
    Volatile Size: 8 GB
    Cache Size: None
    Logical Size: None

New RAM Specs Sheet

Stock BIOS i have right now

I’m not exactly sure how to continue, was thinking I might do what OP was thinking, mash together lines from multiple bios roms (K3605VV, K6604JV), but i’m not that experienced in bios modifications and i’m trying to avoid having to unbrick my new beautiful beast.

Any pointers are highly appreciated!

Also, my bios settings weren’t of any help, thought they might save me but they are non existent.

BIOS settings
bios.jpg1000×1500 84.7 KB