Apple Silicon Soldered SSD Upgrade Thread

[Sauve Mon Mac]

Thank you for your anwser!

But on this video SDSFGKLKH works on MBA M4 for 2tb upgrade tho.
So idk if I should take the risk to buy it, it's my only option to get 2tb without paying 400€...
The samsung chip you mentionned return no results on aliexpress nor google, idk if they use a different name.
Edit: This guy use the 512gb variant x2 tho cause its written 994gb on settings.

Oh also, do you know if the prices of the K6B2 and K8A5 have always been this high? Is it because they’re newer chips, or is it related to the AI-driven DRAM/SSD shortage?

Yes don’t trust these videos. SDSF chips don’t work on MBA M4 (only MBP M4 and Mac Mini M4)
In the video he probably ended up to put k5a5 chips and get 1Tb.

 

[CryptoPhoenix]

Hello everyone!

I understood based on this thread that for A3240 M4 MBA if you want to do 2TB configuration you need K8A5 NAND.

But if I would want to put 2 * 512GB for 1TB configuration, would K5A5 work for that? I haven't found any information related to that online. Are there any other types of NAND that would also work?

 

[adrienqua]

Hello everyone!

I understood based on this thread that for A3240 M4 MBA if you want to do 2TB configuration you need K8A5 NAND.

But if I would want to put 2 * 512GB for 1TB configuration, would K5A5 work for that? I haven't found any information related to that online. Are there any other types of NAND that would also work?

Yes K5A5 definitely works for 1tb.

What do you advice to use as hot air station?

I'd like the cheapest possible able to do the job correctly. Is the 858D from aliexpress suitable (around 30-40€) ?

 

[CryptoPhoenix]

@adrienqua how do you know for sure it's compatible? Something that I was also wondering is whether those aliexpress chips are fine or are they somehow partially faulty that didn't pass QC? Is there any way to tell?

When it comes to your question about hot air station, I'd imagine that one works but it is probably more about your general microsoldering skills and your lab. I personally am gonna use my workplace's electronics lab that is well equipped. However I will probably buy some scrap from aliexpress to practice with before doing the actual operation.

 

[gabrieljsmith1]

Hi, Fantastic post dosdude!!

I’m looking for a reputable SSD upgrade kit for the Mac Mini M4 base model (non‑M4 Pro). I was hoping Poly Soft offered one, but I haven’t been able to find it so far. Below are the vendors I’ve come across:

• ExpandMacMini.com • 2TB – $320 • 1‑year limited warranty
• M4BoostHub.com • 2TB – $339 • 1‑year warranty
• Store.M4‑SSD.com • 2TB – $329 • 1‑year warranty

Do you have any recommendations or insights on which option might be the most reliable? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

-Gabe

 

[prageethk]

In this thread, we intend to share all relevant details, resources, and processes involved with upgrading soldered storage on Apple Silicon Macs.

Notes

• All M1 systems utilize BGA110 "S5E" NANDs
• Some M2 systems use BGA110, while some use BGA315

Supported NAND configurations for regular M1 / M2 / M3 /M4

​	Model​	Disk Brand​	256GB​	512GB​	1TB​	2TB​
M1 BGA110​	A2337 MBA 13" A2338 MBP 13" A2348 Mini M1 A2438 iMac A2439 iMac​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	1xKICM232 1xKICM225 2x HN3T0BA2 -​	1xKICM233 1xKICM227 - -​	2x KICM229 2x H23B4T84 2x SDREGJHIH​	2x KICM223 2x 2xH23B8T85 2x SDSFGJLKH​
M2 BGA110​	A2681 MBA 13" A2338 MBP 13"​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	1xKIC5224 1xHN3T1BA4 -​	2xKIC5224 2xHN3T1BA4 -​	2xKIC5226 2xHN3T2BA8 -​	2x KIC5228 2xHN3T3BAG -​
M2 BGA315​	A2941 MBA 15" A2686 Mini M2​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	1x K5A4 1x HN3T1AA2 1x SDSFGKLX4​	2x K5A4 2x HN3T1DT4 -​	2x K5A5 2x HN3T2DT8 -​	2x K5A8 2x HN3T3 -​
M3 BGA315​	A3113 MBA 13" A3114 MBA 15" A2873 iMac A2874 iMac A2918 MBP 14"​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	2x K5A3 2x HN3T0AA2 -​	2x K5A4 2x HN3T1DT4 -​	2x K5A5 2x HN3T2DT8 -​	2x K6B2 2x HN3T3DTG -​
M4 BGA315​	A3240 MBA 13" A3241 MBA 15" A3112 MBP 14" A3238 Mini M4 A3137 iMac A3247 iMac​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	2x K5A3 - -​	2x K5A4 - -​	2x K5A5 - -​	2x K6B2 or K5A8 - 2x SDSFGKLKH​

Supported NAND configurations for M1 / M2 / M3 /M4 Pro, Max and Ultra

​

​	Model​	Disk Brand​	512GB​	1TB​	2TB​	4TB​	8TB​	16TB​
M1 Pro M1 Max M1 Ultra BGA110​	A2442 A2485 A2601​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	1xKICM232 3xKICM225 - -​	1xKICM233 3xKICM227 - -​	4x KICM229 4x H23B4T84 4x SDREGJHIH​	8x KICM229 8x H23B4T84 8x SDREGJHIH​	8x KICM223 8x 2xH23B8T85 8x SDSFGJLKH	X​
M2 Pro M2 Max M2 Ultra BGA315​	A2442 A2485 A2901 Mac Studio A2786 Mac Pro​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	2x K5A4 2x HN3T1AA2 2x SDSFGKLX4​	4x K5A4 4x HN3T1AA2 4x SDSFGKLX4​	4x K5A5 4x HN3T2DT8 -​	8x K5A5 8x HN3T2DT8 -​	8x K5A8 8x HN3T3 -​	X​
M4 Pro BGA315​	A3401 MBP 14" A3403 MBP 16" A3289 Mini M4 Pro​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	4x K5A3 - -​	4x K5A4 - -​	4x K5A5 - -​	4x K6B2 - -​	4x K6B3 - -​	X​
M3 Pro M3 Max M4 Max BGA315​	A2992 MBP 14" A2991 MBP 16" A3185 MBP 14" A3186 MBP 16" A3143 Mac Studio​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk​	4x K5A3 - -​	4x K5A4 - 4x HN3T1DT4​	4x K5A5 - 4x HN3T2DT8​	8x K5A5 - 8x HN3T2DT8​	8x K6B2 - 8x HN3T3DTG​	X​
M3 Ultra BGA315​	A3389 Mac Studio​	Kioxia Hynix Sandisk Samsung​	X​	4x K5A4 - 4x HN3T1DT4 -​	4x K5A5 - 4x HN3T2DT8 -​	8x K5A5 - 8x HN3T2DT8 -​	8x K6B2 - 8x HN3T3DTG -​	8x K6B3 - - 8x KLBIGAN5​

( table courtesy of @gilles_polysoft )​

• Standard M1
  • 2TB: 2x KICM223
  • 1TB: 2x KICM229
• M1 Pro/Max/Ultra:
  • 2TB: 4x KICM229
  • 4TB: 8x KICM229 (requires adding missing components to use other 4 NAND landing pads)
  • 8TB: 8x KICM223

Upgrading Process

To complete these upgrades most effectively, the best option is to try and locate brand new, "blank" chips to install. In such instance, all you need to do is solder on the new chips onto any NAND landing pad on the desired board, DFU restore, and that's it. Technically, only NAND0 (master NAND) needs to be blank, or in the case of utilizing an 8 NAND config on M1 Pro/Max/Ultra, the master NAND of each channel/port needs to be blank.

If you cannot locate blank chips, and don't have a matched pre-programmed set to simply transfer over, you will need to program them yourself before installation using JC P13, P15, or LB H7 programmer. To do so, you will need appropriate dumps for your desired config, specific to the desired NANDs. This thread will also serve as a place to share such dumps. The dumps I have currently are linked below:

• 2x KICM223 2TB config (for any standard M1 Mac, including MacBook Pro, Air, Mac Mini, etc. Tested and known working(courtesy of @gilles_polysoft)
• 4x KICM229 2TB config (for any M1 Pro/Max/Ultra system. Untested, but includes dumps of known-blank chips, which may be usable to revert a programmed KICM229 back to a "blank" state)

For more info on the NAND replacement, programming, and addition of extra components to allow a previously unpopulated NAND landing pad to function, you can watch my video:

What a great job!
Does anyone have A2442 4TB configs for 8 x KICM229?

 

[dosdude1]

I want to upgrade my A2338 M2 to 2TB. It is currently in a single NAND configuration so I also need to add the missing components. I am having a difficult time to find sources for the 2x KIC5228 and 2x HN3T3BAG which are mentioned in the first post of this thread. Do I have any alternatives or can anyone hand me some pointer for possible sources?

Before I start compiling the list of the required additional components myself I was also wondering if anyone has done so before and is willing to share their list. I know that there is one for the A2442 M1 Pro shared in an earlier post.

These parts are correct for any Apple Silicon Mac (at least up to the M3 systems). In addition to that list, you will also need a set of the NAND Branch Addition parts.

 

[L e e]

[...]

You can put K5A8 BGA315 with adapter, it works. Where are you located ?

I saw the adapters but have not seen any compatibility lists so I wondered if they can be used at all. If this is known to work I will give it a try and report back. The K5A8 seems a lot easier to get by these days.

I am located in Germany.

 

[L e e]

These parts are correct for any Apple Silicon Mac (at least up to the M3 systems). In addition to that list, you will also need a set of the NAND Branch Addition parts.

Thank you for the hint! So I will get the parts listed in Mac NAND Branch Additions and Mac NAND LP, 2x BGA315 adapters and 2x K5A8. It will probably take me a while with my day job keeping me busy but I will report back how it goes. I am a bit scared about the BGA315. It looks so much smaller than BGA110 as if it will be much less forgiving on slight misalignments.