Apple Expands Do-It-Yourself Repair Program to Desktop Macs With M1 Chips and Studio Display

[theluggage]

SSD upgrade restrictions on these might be a hardware limit. The controller may be specified for handling only certain amounts of flash or PCIe lanes at test time due to yield issues and the chips ”bucketed” and installed in matching capacity machines.

That's possible - but a bit bizarre (I'd be healthily skeptical about 'binning' even on large components like CPU/GPU cores or clock speeds - since the lower specs usually sell in greater numbers, so you'd need most of the chips to be failures? More like an agreed proportion of chips never get tested to see if they meet full spec). Apple already have to guess how many of each permutation of GPU cores & RAM size they need to make - if they made SD-size specific SoCs or mainboards they'd have to juggle 4-5 (SSD configs) x 2 (RAM configs) x 2 (GPU configs) x 2 (Max/Ultra) different SoCs/Mainboards through the whole manufacturing process. Much easier to fit the required SSD cards at assembly time. I suspect that's probably why we got removable SSD at all (also, if Apple were playing that game, the 512GB model wouldn't even have a socket for a second SSD).

Much more sensible to have the controller configurable in firmware post-assembly - Apple can still block upgrades by not allowing the muggle version of System Configurator to change the setting.

 

[Danfango]

If you're paying £7k for 6.4TB just for fast PCIe SSD, when a 2TB, M.2 PCIe 4.0x4 stick costs under £300 retail then something is very wrong.

But that's probably not what you are paying for. Either you're paying for better technical specs for server-class hardware with better throughput, error-checking, life span, multi-user performance etc. or you're paying for guaranteed MTBF, extended warranties, compliance certification, service agreements etc. Or your company has an exclusive contract with the supplier that involves paying a premium for "off-contract" items but (hopefully) pays back in other ways, like service agreements and better prices for the items on the contract. Or, maybe, you've made the fatal mistake of going to an enterprise-centric supplier (who make their money from contracts with large businesses) and naively paying their one-off retail prices without going through the tendering/contract negotiation process.

There's no evidence that Apple's SSDs are "enterprise grade" in terms of technical specs or guaranteed longevity.

Exactly the point. But you have to ask a question:

What exactly is the difference between an enterprise SSD and an Apple SSD and a consumer SSD.

Not a lot in the scale of things! It’s a bunch of flash chips, some cache and a controller.

You’re paying for the guaranteed IOPS, the warranty, the support and the distribution network. A consumer SSD gets pretty much nothing there. An Apple SSD gets you a concierge to fit it and a guarantee the configuration will work. An enterprise SSD gets an army of people at your disposal to make sure it works and is integrated properly.

And that’s how the pricing model works.

 

[theluggage]

For most do-it yourself upgrades on the Mac Studio, you’d have to be very good, very lucky, or very dumb to risk your investment in that way.

In 3-4 years time I might be grateful for the manuals if I want to replace the button cell battery and clean out the dust bunnies.

Meanwhile, maybe the requirement to produce these manuals will encourage Apple to pay some attention to ease of disassembly and lay off the glue and rivets a bit. The Mac Studio seems fairly straightforward to strip and re-assemble.

As for repairs, don’t even think about saving yourself $160 by not getting the three year Applecare coverage.

Extended warranties - that cover the device during its second and third year of life when it is statistically least likely to break down - are something you need to cost out across all of your tech purchases (plus the "only insure what you can't afford to fix/replace" rule). I've had 4 Macs, 3 iPads an iPod, 2 Apple TVs and loads of other non-Apple tech and the amount I've "saved" by not getting extended warranties easily exceeds what I've had to spend on repairs. If you want accidental damage cover, and have a lot of tech, then putting everythimg on your home insurance may be a better deal.

Also in the EU/UK where the statutory cover against manufacturing defects is up to 6 years (albeit with increasing "burden of proof") it's hard to see what Applecare actually buys you with a desktop machine that isn't prone to accidental damage. That's clearer with a phone or laptop that's liable to get dropped, trodden on etc. but that's why Applecare is more expensive on those... The most likely mishap to befall my Mac Studio is to have a cup of tea poured on it, which probably isn't covered. When I looked at the Applecare blurb it was very hard to see what I was actually getting.

 

[Danfango]

That's possible - but a bit bizarre (I'd be healthily skeptical about 'binning' even on large components like CPU/GPU cores or clock speeds - since the lower specs usually sell in greater numbers, so you'd need most of the chips to be failures? More like an agreed proportion of chips never get tested to see if they meet full spec). Apple already have to guess how many of each permutation of GPU cores & RAM size they need to make - if they made SD-size specific SoCs or mainboards they'd have to juggle 4-5 (SSD configs) x 2 (RAM configs) x 2 (GPU configs) x 2 (Max/Ultra) different SoCs/Mainboards through the whole manufacturing process. Much easier to fit the required SSD cards at assembly time. I suspect that's probably why we got removable SSD at all (also, if Apple were playing that game, the 512GB model wouldn't even have a socket for a second SSD).

Much more sensible to have the controller configurable in firmware post-assembly - Apple can still block upgrades by not allowing the muggle version of System Configurator to change the setting.

Fair points. Perhaps they’re seeing how market segmentation goes first?

 

[1madman1]

I assume if you realize it’s the wrong part, too difficult to install, or won’t fix your issue then you should be able to return it no questions asked? Genuinely curious.

If untouched, unopened, sure. If you've messed with it - it's yours, or at the very least get hit with a restocking fee where legal. Same concept as buying parts for a car at a dealer.

 

[4nNtt]

Unfortunately they don't let you upgrade your SSD in the Mac Studio. It only shows what it came with. I'll probably just hold out with the 1TB in mine until I upgrade. I was eager to buy and didn't want to wait for a higher capacity version. Upgrades make more sense with a 2TB model anyway. You can put 2 2TB modules in (I think), but not 2 1TB modules. It would be nice if Apple offered storage upgrades as long as you are OK with DFU wiping your Mac.

 

[phenste]

Then what's the point of SELF-service repair? Ironic.

so that people who feel up to the job can do it themselves and spare a trip to the store. the repair kits being so large and full of tools is just illustrative of the amount of expertise required by technicians to do the repair—that’s why they get paid to do it.

really don’t understand why people get so heated over a relatively easy concept to grasp.

the only constructive criticism I can think of is the way the devices themselves are assembled. if they were assembled in a simpler way, self-service would be easier—but they’re simply not. lobby for that, I guess?

 

[Pressure]

Unfortunately they don't let you upgrade your SSD in the Mac Studio. It only shows what it came with. I'll probably just hold out with the 1TB in mine until I upgrade. I was eager to buy and didn't want to wait for a higher capacity version. Upgrades make more sense with a 2TB model anyway. You can put 2 2TB modules in (I think), but not 2 1TB modules. It would be nice if Apple offered storage upgrades as long as you are OK with DFU wiping your Mac.

Yeah, just tried as well and the only option showing up is what it was bought with. Pretty lame honestly as your machine is getting wiped either way when replacing the SSD blades and reconfigured with Apple Configurator.

Not to mention you pay a premium atop of the normal upgrade price for the new SSD blades ...

 

[CMMChris]

I haven't seen a single report of someone successfully upgrading theirs.

I also haven't seen anyone trying to do it the right way. Asahi Linux lead developer Hector Martin planned to try it the right way, but AFAIK hasn't done so yet.

No, they sell them in different sizes because you can configure it in different sizes.

You have to enter the serial number of your machine in the self-service repair store, which in return limits the parts to what's compatible with your model. All flash module sizes are available for any serial number you try.

Which gets to the bottom of the issue: can you reconfigure the controller to expect a different size, or can you not?

What makes you think you need to re-configure the controller? The exact flash specifications needed and allowed are part of the controller firmware and it contains the configuration for all storage variants. Controller firmware is identical no matter what amount of storage you buy. Every Mac Studio supports each of the available storage sizes
Apple sells this machine with.

 

[MacBH928]

This is simply wrong. You can upgrade, and this is why Apple sells modules in different sizes. Due to the fact those are pure flash modules and not SSDs you of course have to play by the rules set by the SSD controller inside the M1 Max / Ultra SoC.

whats the difference between flash and SSD? i thought all ssd is considered flash memory!? or is flash memory the ram kind that does not keep storage after power downs?

 

[Not@Apple]

I'd love to be able to upgrade the 2TB storage in my Mac Studio to 8TB somewhere down the road. If it can be done, it makes sense for Apple to offer it, and make the money at their crazy prices... As it is, I'm using external SSDs and am happy with things at the moment.

 

[CMMChris]

whats the difference between flash and SSD?

An SSD is the whole part consisting of a storage controller and the flash memory. On the Mac Studio the actual SSD controller is not part of the module but inside the M1. So the modules are not really SSDs, but just pure and dumb flash memory modules that cannot do anything on their own.

The last Intel Mac Pro uses the same concept by the way, just in this case the controller sits inside the T2 chip.

 

[chucker23n1]

whats the difference between flash and SSD? i thought all ssd is considered flash memory!? or is flash memory the ram kind that does not keep storage after power downs?

“SSD” is just a fancy term for “flash storage with a smarter controller”. Apple’s storage absolutely applies.

 

[CMMChris]

Of course it's an SSD when inside the Mac, but the modules themselves are not. If you rip off the flash chips from an NVMe drive, you wouldn't call the flash chips an SSD, right?

 

[MacBH928]

An SSD is the whole part consisting of a storage controller and the flash memory. On the Mac Studio the actual SSD controller is not part of the module but inside the M1. So the modules are not really SSDs, but just pure and dumb flash memory modules that cannot do anything on their own.

The last Intel Mac Pro uses the same concept by the way, just in this case the controller sits inside the T2 chip.

enlightening , thanks. Is there a benefit for this over just having a slip-in upgradable SSD's like how you can replace the RAM back in the day?

 

[CMMChris]

Hector Martin (Asahi Linux Lead Developer) wrote up a lot of interesting things on Twitter about this. Unfortunately, he deleted his Twitter account recently. But some of it still is inside Google's cache:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506022589357260801

 

[Chancha]

“SSD” is just a fancy term for “flash storage with a smarter controller”. Apple’s storage absolutely applies.

Exactly, I never understand why people are confidently sure when stating otherwise (including in this thread). Imagine showing a Nokia 3310 to a kid and he say it isn't a cellphone, because it doesn't have touch screen.

 

[hex_Edinburgh]

Yes the idea is great but still there's so much more to be done. Step in a right direction for sure though.

 

[SpanishAppleNerd]

I don't get why the hell Apple does not offer their manuals in PDF, I like collecting the manuals for the systems I own but I can't