M1 Mac RAM and SSD Upgrades Found to Be Possible After Purchase

[kyeblue]

wonder if the RAM can be upgraded to 32G. If so, I will certainly take my MBA to one of those shops next trip to China. I have 16G RAM but it is still a huge limiting factor for an otherwise marvelous machine

 

[JPack]

wonder if the RAM can be upgraded to 32G. If so, I will certainly take my MBA to one of those shops next trip to China. I have 16G RAM but it is still a huge limiting factor for an otherwise marvelous machine

16GB LPDDR4X packages aren't available, so we probably won't know for some time.

Highest density right now is 12GB.

 

[topmacat]

hmm interesting ....but i thought the T2 chip supposed to check against all the default component on every boot. so one memory or ssd chip change may be flag off the T2 and make the entire system unusable .

 

[4nNtt]

I thought the SSD couldn't be replaced in the post-T2 Mac era due to the security lockout. So are they saying that with the switch from Intel to M1, that security feature is removed? I guess there could be made easier somehow with the M1 performing the T2's former functions.

That lock was never for security. Those SSDs use the T2 as a controller, so I imagine Apple was just trying to prevent third party SSDs since there was no good way to validate them against the proprietary controller. M.2 nvme SSDs have a controller built-in so it is a different situation. Soldering them in is good enough to prevent uncertified chips.

 

[JPack]

So went to read the whole original info in Chinese source. Currently Huaqiangbei, hardware and parts center market in China has confirmed the upgrade in multiple source. The memory upgrade is relatively easy as the memory chip welded in is a normal LPDDR4X, takes some time to swap but not hard. The ssd disk upgrade takes a bit extra work as Apple integrated a T2 chip to lock your M1 in with the id of the pre-rinstalled ssd disk. Hence the repair technician needs to decipher that first then upgrade. Now Huangqiangbei technicians have started taken orders for such upgrade with roughly charge of $120-$130.

$120 service charge is pretty reasonable, especially given the skill, time, and equipment needed.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

wonder if the RAM can be upgraded to 32G. If so, I will certainly take my MBA to one of those shops next trip to China. I have 16G RAM but it is still a huge limiting factor for an otherwise marvelous machine

It's going to break. This will be less reliable than one of those dodgy iPhone 6 touch IC fixes.

 

[Lyoha]

Extremely misleading title. It's a bit like saying robbing a bank is possible, given you have an experienced crew, inside information and a pass from law enforcement. This is not something the average user will ever be able to do.

Technically Possible !== Possible

It's possible, but not probable

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

wonder if the RAM can be upgraded to 32G. If so, I will certainly take my MBA to one of those shops next trip to China. I have 16G RAM but it is still a huge limiting factor for an otherwise marvelous machine

What limitations are imposed on you with a 16G Macbook Air??

 

[1258186]

It would be better if Apple made their RAM options more affordable in the first place.

 

[SDJim]

My concern with some of the reports of really high ssd usage due to memory swapping is the longevity of that drive. I’d hate for the drive to fail in under 5 years and require an entirely new motherboard. Time will tell how big of an issue that will be.

I mainly feel jilted that the opportunity wasn't seized to make the entire M1 SoC easily replaceable. Having the system itself tightly integrated is the source of the power of M1 (CPU>Cache>Memory>Storage), so why not use a socket or similar to secure it to the motherboard so that system failures could be dealt with easily and economically?

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Technically Possible !== Possible

This makes no sense. Technically possible literally means “strictly according to the facts, it’s possible.” Just because you don’t have the skill or tools to do it doesn’t mean it’s not possible for others. Even the older upgradable Macs were only “technically” upgradable for the vast majority of users who didn’t know how the internals worked. The title is in no way misleading since it didn’t imply at all that it was easy or should be attempted.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I realize Apple tries to sell efficiency with unified memory but 16GB is a standard in 2021, my iMac 2020 has 128GB and that's how future-proof a Mac when it's expected to last for years to come.

Correction: 16GB is standard for x86 machines. Depending on how good the integration and memory management is the M1 might not need as much. iPhones always matched and exceeded Android performance despite having way less RAM.

 

[pdoherty]

it takes some skill to do that kind of soldering work, look at how many pins on the RAM for the size of the component

Yes but it’s sort of “melt them all at once and lift”. This guy does that type of thing on a lot of his repair videos.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOrKQtC1tDfGf_fFVb8pYw

 

[pdoherty]

That’s nice. Of course, it’s not going to give end users more flexibility; in fact, the level of complexity with the RAM portion makes me question whether it’ll even give repairmen more flexibility.

But… cool, I guess?

It’s not as bad as you’re imagining. After the old has been removed, small ‘solder balls’ are dropped onto each hole until they’re all in place. Then the new chip is placed on top and flux/heat is applied and they all melt together.

 

[pdoherty]

I wouldn't mess with it, especially with how affordable the M1 Macs are right now. However, can't wrap my head around why the mini wasn't offered with 10Gb Ethernet, and the Intel model can still be had with this option? Argh. All of my other gear is 10GBe, and yes you can realize speeds well above 1Gb when you're working with RAID arrays and PCIe storage! I'm sure it will come with the first hardware update, but still.

What are you using for a switch/router?

 

[gnasher729]

16GB LPDDR4X packages aren't available, so we probably won't know for some time.

Highest density right now is 12GB.

To be honest, a 14 inch MBP with a choice of 12 or 24 GB very soon wouldn’t be bad. I don’t know what prices are though, sometimes the highest capacity is a _lot_ more expensive.

 

[gnasher729]

I would assume the M1 supports certain RAM and HD configurations. As long as you are within these specs, any sold variant (e.g. 8GB RAM or 16GB, 256GB/512GB/1TB HD) would be supported.

So my guess is, if you purchase the lowest specs, you may in fact be able to upgrade to the highest sold spec.
Yet it may be difficult to upgrade beyond, i.e. to 64GB of RAM or 2TB HDs.

That may in fact be blocked by the M1.

I would assume there is no way to have more than two RAM chips. The maximum capacity is 12GB at the moment, so 40GB chips for more than 64GB total is a loooong way away. More than 2TB SSD should be no problem if they can build it.

 

[gnasher729]

People are obssesed with wanting to upgrade mobile computers. Just buy what you need and forget about it. Guess what I can't upgrade my £3000 hi-fi speakers, my £1400 HD 800 S headphones, my £800 headphone amp, my UAD Apollo DAC, my iPad Pro, my iPhone, my £4000 OLED TV, my PS5, my Xbox One X, the vacuum, the Apple TV, the satellite box, my wifes Dyson hair dryer, the gym equipment - basically I can't upgrade any other electrical item I own, many costs thousands more than an M1 MacBook and i'm not bothered about it.

Interesting. I read it and immediately thought “of course you can upgrade £3,000 speakers - you just buy a pair for £8,000”. Then two seconds later - “that’s what he says, you can’t _upgrade_ them”.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

I realize Apple tries to sell efficiency with unified memory but 16GB is a standard in 2021, my iMac 2020 has 128GB and that's how future-proof a Mac when it's expected to last for years to come.

Are you really comparing your 128gig iMac to entry level, first generation M1 based Mac's?

Do you not think when Apple replaces the iMac with a M1 model that it might be able to have more than 16gig of RAM?

 

[gnasher729]

If I can solder a few jumpers to overclock a g3 in the original iBook, I am sure I can resolder a micro BGA. No problem!

My level is “anything that you can do with a screw driver” and in very rare cases “anything you can do with brute force”. Replacing a broken DVD drive in my MacBook with an SSD took both

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

I would assume there is no way to have more than two RAM chips. The maximum capacity is 12GB at the moment, so 40GB chips for more than 64GB total is a loooong way away. More than 2TB SSD should be no problem if they can build it.

"so 40GB chips for more than 64GB total is a loooong way away."

For the M1? Sure. Does anyone know of the "M1X or M2" has the same two memory chip limit? What if they have a 4 chip limit, or 6? I am bet we find out this year.

The M1 was the slowest/weakest "M" chip that Apple will ever release. Every "M" chip after it will be better, more capable in some way.

 

[Samuel Sosa]

Apple better start a leasing program soon. LOL

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

Are you really comparing your 128gig iMac to entry level, first generation M1 based Mac's?

Do you not think when Apple replaces the iMac with a M1 model that it might be able to have more than 16gig of RAM?

No, if you read between the lines it's more about the decision to integrate the memory. also Macbook pro should be a pro even if it's entry-level.

 

[Carlson-online]

Extremely misleading title. It's a bit like saying robbing a bank is possible, given you have an experienced crew, inside information and a pass from law enforcement. This is not something the average user will ever be able to do.

Technically Possible !== Possible

Well done to apple insider:
“

Theoretically, you can upgrade RAM & SSD on your M1 Mac mini, but you shouldn't”​

 

[tongxinshe]

I thought the SSD couldn't be replaced in the post-T2 Mac era due to the security lockout. So are they saying that with the switch from Intel to M1, that security feature is removed? I guess there could be made easier somehow with the M1 performing the T2's former functions.

You mixed two concepts. You can still replace the drive, you just cannot migrate over all of the data from the old drive to the new drive.