4GB of ram on one card

[Kyllle]

I know MBAs don't support 8gb of ram, but what if you only put in one card/stick that was 4gb? Is that even possible? If it is, would it work, and would the air still recognize it as 4gb?

I'm asking cause it's a lot cheaper to buy one 1x4gb of ram than 2x2gb.

Thanks!

 

[will]

The Air doesn't use SO-DIMM modules. The memory chips you see on a normal memory module are individually soldered onto the motherboard. This is why the memory cannot be upgraded on the Air after purchase.

I think it's a reasonable assumption that the 2011 Air refresh will come with 4GB by default (at least in the high-end configurations). Whether they'll be an 8GB option is an open question, but if forced to choose I'd say Apple won't offer it.

 

[The-Pro]

Like "will" said the RAM is soldered onto the logicboard, you an forget replacing i after you bought it.

Look at the images so you know what we mean, the chips in the yellow box are the RAM (they are on both side of the logicboard. These images are from ifixit.com

 

[Duke15]

Is there any specific reason why they solder the ram?

 

[darngooddesign]

Is there any specific reason why they solder the ram?

It saves space.

 

[leftywamumonkey]

I'm asking cause it's a lot cheaper to buy one 1x4gb of ram than 2x2gb.

Thanks!

In most cases It's not cheaper to buy one 1X4GB of ram than 2X2GB ram though.

 

[brand]

I'm asking cause it's a lot cheaper to buy one 1x4gb of ram than 2x2gb.

I'm not sure where you got that information from but generally 1x4GB is more expensive than 2x2GB and always has been.

 

[Kyllle]

I'm not sure where you got that information from but generally 1x4GB is more expensive than 2x2GB and always has been.

Oh haha maybe not, that's just what I found with google.

This is where I found it: http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=yPIQTu3oFIH00gGH9cCKDg&ved=0CEwQ8gIwAQ

Not sure if thats 1x4gb but it looked like it, didn't say 2x4gb anywhere. It came up as the first result when i googled 4gb ram. Most of the other ones were ~$80.

I haven't done much research at all (hence me not knowing that the ram is soldered) and was just curious because it seemed like a relatively big difference in prices for 1x4 vs 2x2.

Thanks for everyone's help though!

 

[Duke15]

It saves space.

Thanks, thats what I figured, wanted to be sure though

 

[Kyllle]

.