Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

troop231

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jan 20, 2010
5,826
561
Hello, I am posting a thread to see how much, if any, interest there would be for us to offer a mail-in RAM upgrade process for 2012-2015 rMBP (non-touch bar models). We currently offer the 802.11ac upgrade cards for unibody MBPs (just check my post history), so we are on a mission to bring out upgrades for the older but golden-era MBPs.

The upgrade would be for 32GB of RAM regardless if you have an 8GB or 16GB equipped machine.

The process would require the logic board to be mailed in.
 
how mucho$$?

Depends on chip volume discounts (amount of interest for the upgrade); without bulk pricing, the 32 DRAM chips are about $10 a piece, or $320 total.

So, the more interest the better in order to lower prices. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: profcutter
Honestly this would make me more inclined to look into buying a used MacBook Pro.

there are so many great 2015 MBP 15" models around, but the lack of RAM upgradeability is such a concern for me. If the RAM could be upgraded? HECK YEAH!
 
Honestly this would make me more inclined to look into buying a used MacBook Pro.

there are so many great 2015 MBP 15" models around, but the lack of RAM upgradeability is such a concern for me. If the RAM could be upgraded? HECK YEAH!

What do you think would be a fair price for the RAM upgrade service for labor?
 
Hey, that sounds like a great idea.

Where are you based? How are you doing the upgrade? Any side effects?
 
  • Like
Reactions: iModFrenzy
Hey, that sounds like a great idea.

Where are you based? How are you doing the upgrade? Any side effects?

USA. The upgrade is done via swapping the DRAM chips out for higher density ones. Side effects are double the RAM coming from a 16GB equipped machine, or quadruple the RAM coming from a 8GB machine :D
 
Supposedly one of the reasons Apple didn’t include more RAM originally was that it would adversely affect battery life. You don’t expect any negative effects like that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: junkw
Supposedly one of the reasons Apple didn’t include more RAM originally was that it would adversely affect battery life. You don’t expect any negative effects like that?

Apple has been known to say info like this when it turns out that it doesn't really matter. This is their PR machine in action when the specs on paper aren't as good as other laptops on the market.
 
Judging by the amount of replies, doesn't seem like there's much interest with this despite people wanting more RAM for these machines.
 
If you advertised the service on eBay you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand (if it’s not crazy expensive.) If you got the word out there people would jump on it.
 
If you advertised the service on eBay you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand (if it’s not crazy expensive.) If you got the word out there people would jump on it.

Surprisingly, have not seen Rossmann talk about the WiFi card upgrades on YouTube yet. :(
 
Surprisingly, have not seen Rossmann talk about the WiFi card upgrades on YouTube yet. :(

Have you contacted him? Not sure if it’s something that he would do or not… He doesn’t strike me as somebody that loves Macs.

You could ask some YouTube reviewers to feature it though...
 
I'd be interested depending on the turnaround and final price. I'm running a 2015 15". Is it also possible to do this with a more recent model? Could your pricing maybe beat apple's for memory upgrades?
 
I'd be interested depending on the turnaround and final price. I'm running a 2015 15". Is it also possible to do this with a more recent model? Could your pricing maybe beat apple's for memory upgrades?

We don't think there's much interest in the newer machines since most people are under warranty still.
 
I'd definitely be interested. I have 16GB on my late 2013 and would like 32GB. However, I'd be quite worried about damaging the logic board during the resoldering process.
 
I'd definitely be interested. I have 16GB on my late 2013 and would like 32GB. However, I'd be quite worried about damaging the logic board during the resoldering process.

We'd be more worried with users damaging things when they go to send in the bare logic board rather than the BGA soldering machines.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ScreenSavers
We'd be more worried with users damaging things when they go to send in the bare logic board rather than the BGA soldering machines.

Yes, even as an experienced user, I'd be worried about that too. I'd rather send in the entire machine and let you guys handle the process, and pay a little extra.
 
Yes, even as an experienced user, I'd be worried about that too. I'd rather send in the entire machine and let you guys handle the process, and pay a little extra.

Only thing is, we wouldn't want to be responsible/liable for someone's data if they send in the entire computer with the drive, or be respsonsible for transit damage if the screen breaks (most fragile part). Even though there's shipping insurance, it is a nightmare trying to deal with getting the insurance claim check and the customer is still out a working computer during the interim.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.