Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is it possible to modify a MBA?
- Thread starter FX4568
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The hard drive and maybe the battery, if you can find a source.
The memory and processor are soldered in (and non-user modifiable).
The memory and processor are soldered in (and non-user modifiable).
Modify it how? You can't add new RAM, change the graphics or CPU. About the only thing you can do is add more storage, the only vendor that offers that upgrade is OWC. Will they offer the same upgrade in 3-4 years is anyone's guess. Will there be other vendors that do again anyone's guess.
I see, so unless I know how to remove soldered parts and replace them, the only thing I can switch around is the SSD?
Okay this might sound entirely stupid but here:
What if, I replaced the whole motherboard of the Air, and replace it with a custom built that fits inside? Is such thing possible?
Okay this might sound entirely stupid but here:
What if, I replaced the whole motherboard of the Air, and replace it with a custom built that fits inside? Is such thing possible?
Ummm, wouldn't it be easier to buy a NEW ONE in 3-4 years time rather than screwing round replacing the whole motherboard. Seems like an awfully big bother...
Whoa... That is beyond a custom mod. You will do so entirely at your own risk, if anything fails you'll have to compensate it for yourself, unless you can get someone with extreme expertise which specialises in hardware.
I know the risks, thats why I said 3-4 years.
Again, I am just thinking of something is possible
As of my personality, I love adding new things and building new things into something.
So perhaps, when I get my next MBA (which will be in a few years) Perhaps I can try to make customizations onto this one.
It sounds crazy, but I love doing crazy things
Again, I am just thinking of something is possible
As of my personality, I love adding new things and building new things into something.
So perhaps, when I get my next MBA (which will be in a few years) Perhaps I can try to make customizations onto this one.
It sounds crazy, but I love doing crazy things
The SSD is not a traditional SSD. They are NAND chips placed on the Logic Board. You have to pop those ones off and buy third party NAND replacement chips.
Also no, you cannot replace the logic board.
I know the risks, thats why I said 3-4 years.
Again, I am just thinking of something is possible
As of my personality, I love adding new things and building new things into something.
So perhaps, when I get my next MBA (which will be in a few years) Perhaps I can try to make customizations onto this one.
It sounds crazy, but I love doing crazy things
I suppose you could do something like that, but it would be far more expensive than I think your sense of curiosity would take you, especially for an experiment that is unlikely to work.
I believe the Nvidia-based current MBAs will stand the test of time better than the next Sandy Bridge MBA with Intel IGP.
Just think where computers and Macs are headed. Now consider quadruple the resolution in Lion for Retina type displays in Macs. Also consider gaming, 3D, HD, GPU capable apps, and consider how bad the Intel IGP will be at less than 1/2 the IGP capabilities of the 13" MBP. This is disaster!
I would be happy to use an Nvidia MBA for four years while the SB IGP will make the next one obsolete and behind the times the day it's released. When a computer has a slower CPU it does certain things slower but still does everything the faster CPU can do. With Intel's forced IGP it simply will NOT function for the types of things users want to do. I really don't understand why Apple is going to accept Intel's IGP forced upon it at a horrific cost to its users.
I would prefer using today's MBA and for sure maximizing 4GB RAM on it to last a strong six plus years. There might be 512GB SSDs to upgrade to, but it will otherwise be more capable than Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, and Haswell (I think that is the successor name). It is really sad, and I only hope that Apple tries to make up the terrible IGP with 8GB RAM or two RAM slots, a 512GB SSD, backlit keyboard, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, and a bunch more features with a price drop! That is the only way I believe they can justify it, and the usability for games and such will be worse than a first gen iPad - maybe an exaggeration but you get the point.
Either buy now or buy clearance once the new MBA is announced, but if you're thinking three plus years out you must get the Nvidia GPU to ensure yourself some capabilities.
Just think where computers and Macs are headed. Now consider quadruple the resolution in Lion for Retina type displays in Macs. Also consider gaming, 3D, HD, GPU capable apps, and consider how bad the Intel IGP will be at less than 1/2 the IGP capabilities of the 13" MBP. This is disaster!
I would be happy to use an Nvidia MBA for four years while the SB IGP will make the next one obsolete and behind the times the day it's released. When a computer has a slower CPU it does certain things slower but still does everything the faster CPU can do. With Intel's forced IGP it simply will NOT function for the types of things users want to do. I really don't understand why Apple is going to accept Intel's IGP forced upon it at a horrific cost to its users.
I would prefer using today's MBA and for sure maximizing 4GB RAM on it to last a strong six plus years. There might be 512GB SSDs to upgrade to, but it will otherwise be more capable than Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, and Haswell (I think that is the successor name). It is really sad, and I only hope that Apple tries to make up the terrible IGP with 8GB RAM or two RAM slots, a 512GB SSD, backlit keyboard, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, and a bunch more features with a price drop! That is the only way I believe they can justify it, and the usability for games and such will be worse than a first gen iPad - maybe an exaggeration but you get the point.
Either buy now or buy clearance once the new MBA is announced, but if you're thinking three plus years out you must get the Nvidia GPU to ensure yourself some capabilities.
Yes, I believe so too.
I have been roaming these forums since the MBA rev. B's and have seen many posts from yours.
NVidia in general has beautiful capabilities. From openGL to CUDA, I think it is one of the revolutionizing companies out there.
I bought the MBA like a week ago since I appreciate some gaming, but then again. Who says Apple will stick to Intel's graphic card? Perhaps NVidia might be able to jump in.
I do believe that MBA will not have 320m capabilities until later Ivy bridge though. Skymont might be the future hahaha.
Personally, I would love the idea of a computer as thin as a Macbook Air with a high end Graphics card, even if it means I should pay 5000 dollars for it.
Apple could fit a ded. GPU in the MBA. Oh well. we will see what happens.