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Removing onboard RAM on MB air?
- Thread starter Mobius 1
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They don't use standard RAM modules on the MacBook Air, the RAM chips are soldered directly onto the board.
Sorry, but you can't use your $45 RAM modules.
Sorry, but you can't use your $45 RAM modules.
Really not a good idea.
Replacing the RAM yourself would be a big challenge, it's soldered to the logic board. Whilst Apple don't void AppleCare when you take the case off I think soldering new pieces on would be unacceptable. So even if you could upgrade the unusual RAM without breaking the MBA you'd void the warranty.
Pay for the 4GB RAM. You will need it during the lifetime of the MBA.
EDIT- Just figured out that because Apple use unusual RAM in the Air 4GB would probably cost more than $45 anyway. So on top of being really difficult and voiding the warranty it wouldn't save you money.
Replacing the RAM yourself would be a big challenge, it's soldered to the logic board. Whilst Apple don't void AppleCare when you take the case off I think soldering new pieces on would be unacceptable. So even if you could upgrade the unusual RAM without breaking the MBA you'd void the warranty.
Pay for the 4GB RAM. You will need it during the lifetime of the MBA.
EDIT- Just figured out that because Apple use unusual RAM in the Air 4GB would probably cost more than $45 anyway. So on top of being really difficult and voiding the warranty it wouldn't save you money.
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I don't think you could do it even if you were an expert.
The RAM chips are machine soldered on to both sides of the board so if you tried to solder one side, the other side would probably come unsoldered.
RAM chips are in the yellow box...
Well, if your time isn't worthless (since you can justify the efforts by saving $55) then at least you're underestimating the risk involved in this.
Yeah, I should have put big challenge in bold. The OP would have to hire a team of experts from MIT to work around the clock. Probably brings the total cost to over $100!
Yeah, I should have put big challenge in bold. The OP would have to hire a team of experts from MIT to work around the clock. Probably brings the total cost to over $100!
lemme guess?
Over 9000!!!
I don't know why anyone would void their warranty and manually have to order and install ram their self just to save $55
The air is made for people who know what they need, if you are this cheap, no offense, just go with a macbook pro, it uses regular ram that you can easily upgrade. The air is made to be small I doubt apple will change the ram in future macbook air's, because part of this is what makes it so small. 
The air is made for people who know what they need, if you are this cheap, no offense, just go with a macbook pro, it uses regular ram that you can easily upgrade. The air is made to be small I doubt apple will change the ram in future macbook air's, because part of this is what makes it so small.
Too mainstream
now i have to find a refurb 13" with 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage
I just bought two refurb'd 13inch 4gb with 256gb hdd MacBook Air's straight from Apple's site. It was worth it. Just do it.
I'm hoping the next refresh will have more memory. Anywhere between 6-8gb of it Makes the MacBook Air a real challenge to most PC based Laptops.
The air is made for people who know what they need, if you are this cheap, no offense, just go with a macbook pro, it uses regular ram that you can easily upgrade. The air is made to be small I doubt apple will change the ram in future macbook air's, because part of this is what makes it so small.
That is why i am SHOCKED that hardware manufacturers are not falling over themselves trying to create a new standard for tiny SSD and tiny RAM. How more clear does Apple have to be to communicate "there is a big market for this but it doesn't exist so i guess we'll have to spend the R&D to create it ourselves".
Also I am afraid that once the toothpaste is out of the tube its really hard to get back in. I just posted on another thread here that even the primary iMac hard drive is now Apple proprietary and not user replaceable. Yikes!
Yeah I saw that, But I wonder if you can just buy another drive and than have the people at the apple store replace the drive...
Yeah I saw that, But I wonder if you can just buy another drive and than have the people at the apple store replace the drive...
hdd pin connectorz not customized?
Yeah I saw that, But I wonder if you can just buy another drive and than have the people at the apple store replace the drive...
The Apple store people will not touch hardware that you did not buy from them.
I have one. It rocks. I want 480GB of OWC storage though. I'll start saving the $1,500 now
Apple hardware yes, but I can't see them being willing to work with 3rd party hardware. Suppose you buy a 3rd party SDD and want them to install it, then something doesn't work - people would blame Apple. If you have Apple hardware, then the techs know how to deal with it.