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New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

ichilton.co.uk

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Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#291

Post by cbsmith »

Xylakant wrote: post #104
cbsmith wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still kind of scratching my head about the use of SATA given these custom connectors. It keeps driver development simple, but at a cost in performance.

Well, not only driver development but also controller development. SATA is a standard where you can go buy the standard components. The connector probably has the same data lanes as a SATA connector, just a different form factor. Most of the space saving come from not having an enclosure like harddrives do - something which only words with SSDs since they have no moving parts and are thus dust-resistant.

Most SSD SATA interfaces are themselves essentially a bridge. You could instead directly wire in to the SSD's interface. It helps in a number of ways, as the SATA protocol was really not designed with SSD's in mind. Under the covers, SSD's are kind of this weird hybrid of RAM and storage devices.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#292

Post by stouset »

trimbo wrote: post #264
stouset wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 1. Proprietary pentalobe screws prevent you from gaining access to anything inside. Well, there's not much inside for a normal user to replace any more. > 2. As in the MacBook Air, the RAM is soldered to the logic board. Max out at 16GB now, or forever hold your peace—you can't upgrade. Just like CPUs and graphics cards have been for years. > 3. The proprietary SSD isn't upgradeable either (yet), as it is similar b…

> I'm over 2 years in on my 2010 MacBook Pro, and checking the battery right now I see its designed capacity was 6,000mAh while its current, fully-charged capacity is… 5,786mAh. I don't know what the capacity is on mine, but I used to get about 5 hours on battery, now I'm lucky to get 2.5 hours. Mine is same model, 18 months old.

In case you're curious (I am!), iStat Menus can show you the breakdown with its battery monitor module.

Keep in mind that the reduction in battery life might also just be that you have more intensive apps running, more things happening in the background, brighter monitor, etc. I also feel intuitively like the battery life in my MBP has dropped, but seeing the numbers, I'm pretty convinced it's a change in my usage more than the inherent battery life.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#293

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

Void_ wrote: post #22

Now you have to pay $350 extra for AppleCare unless you're the luckiest person in the world.

I have gotten same day turn around for a trackpad problem on my current MBP. I know others that have gotten similarly good service for their own devices.

Have you ever tried to claim the warranty from other companies? If you rely heavily on a piece of equipment, $350 for really good support is a bargain.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#294

Post by yuhong »

freyrs3 wrote: post #285
mironathetin wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"What would constitute a real operating system? " If you want to know my most important point: backup and play back (bootable) EASILY.

How is that even a function of the operating system?

Yea the problem is the legacy PC BIOS which relies on real-mode boot sectors. EFI firmware has code to read file systems which makes this much easier, and PCs are finally beginning to have it too.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#295

Post by okamiueru »

bobbywilson0 wrote: post #221
okamiueru wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The no scroll edition: * MacBook Pro with Retina Display 15" Mid 2012 Repairability Score: 1 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair). * Proprietary pentalobe screws prevent you from gaining access to anything inside. * As in the MacBook Air, the RAM is soldered to the logic board. Max out at 16GB now, or forever hold your peace—you can't upgrade. * The proprietary SSD isn't upgradeable either (yet), as it is similar but…

Thanks. I was trying to make it look as though it was quoted but looks like I failed.

You did the work :) No need to thank me. I had to copy paste to read it anyways.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#296

Post by idspispopd »

ebrenes wrote: post #276
masklinn wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But if something like a RAM gets toast on my machine, I would like to get that replaced instead of replacing the whole machine. Historically, Apple tends to be pretty good on support worth the price. If something like a RAM chip is toast, they'll usually replace the board, or even the whole machine.

Not to mention that you do not get that level of support around the world. If you happen to be outside of the US when the RAM fails, you're shit out of luck, and looking at several weeks without a computer, even if it's under warranty.

What's with Apple and people lying about their products/services? Clearly you must know that your statement above is not only false, but easily disproven by visiting the apple support website?

The truth is that you can take your apple product into any apple store, or apple certified reseller worldwide and get the same level of replace or repair. The only difference is timing, Apple stores keep a limited stock of parts, while resellers must order them in. The difference in repair time works out to be a few days.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#297

Post by semanticist »

speleding wrote: post #288
socialist_coder wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should tell your users to unplug their Macbooks more often. If you leave them plugged in 99% of the time the battery will fail a lot faster. It should drain and recharge every once a while.

I can't find any reference anywhere that what you say is true, can you point me in the right direction please? As far as I know, the complete opposite is true for the Li-ion batteries that Apple uses, each discharge reduces its life. Cadmium batteries have a memory effect and need to be drained every once in a while but Apple doesn't use those.

While each full charge cycle reduces the overall life, Apple recommend going through at least one charge cycle a month: http://www.apple.com/batteries/

This isn't the same as 'run it down to 0% and then fully charge', though, it could be 'run it down to 75% and then fully charge, four times'.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#298

Post by idspispopd »

kamaal wrote: post #197
stouset wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Your assumptions are completely wrong, and it only shows that Apple target customers are not really doing any kind of serious computing. The elitism here is just disgusting. I suppose all the graphic designers, photographers, programmers, and even just plain old novice users who love Apple products should just pack their bags and go back to pencils and paper. After all, if they're not doing any kind of serious comp…

Its not elitism. Apple is trying very hard to convert a computer into a washing machine. Which is, giving it a specific use, like a TV or a refrigerator and tightly controlling everything behind that use.

It's fine for you to think this, but it's beside the point and a fatigued argument that ignores the retrospective history of computing devices. Indeed I have heard the same comparisons for CPU/GPU/Sound Cards becoming soldered onto the main board. (Along with a myriad of obsolete components that users were certain they wanted to upgrade.)

There was a period back when computers were around 16Mhz that you could reliably keep a machine for many years and progressively upgrade it. The speed of progress has increased significantly since then, it's unlikely that you'll be able to find appropriate hardware for your machine by the time software has rendered it obsolete.

To break up the argument a bit:

- Soldered ram doesn't devalue the product, or present a less serious computer user. It reflects the reality that most people don't upgrade. This forum will definitely have a skew towards tinkerers, but it's not representative of the market, and there are already a slew of products to serve this consumer. - If it's broken outside of warranty there are indeed many avenues for low cost repair, even though this has a small chance of even occurring. - The cost of maxing out the ram is on par with market pricing. - Giving the user upgrade choices at purchase time is a better route than trying to hunt down parts later on. All computers become obsolete, minor spec upgrades won't stop this.

This is what incremental change looks like, ram being a quick solution for computing woes has reached the point of irrelevancy and 16GB of ram is certainly appropriate for the gamut of uses of such a device. Most speed gains experienced on this hardware will be the result of the SSD.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#299

Post by sneak »

orangecat wrote: post #177
sneak wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upgrading the RAM on a new Macbook Pro is a user-serviceable operation. It consists of four steps: 1) Back up data, wipe drive 2) Sell MBP on eBay 3) Buy new MBP with desired amount of RAM 4) Restore data Now stop it. You're buying a Mac because you don't like to waste time dicking around with your computer, remember?

You're buying a Mac because you don't like to waste time dicking around with your computer, remember? And I do like to waste time dealing with backups and Craigslist scammers? I'm buying a Mac because I want a Unix workstation with a solid UI. Lots of MacBook Pro owners are not terrified of screwdrivers.

> And I do like to waste time dealing with backups

Ha. Best of luck, friend.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#300

Post by subsection1h »

masklinn wrote: post #271
LaSombra wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some of us don't like to be extorted by Apple when looking for BTO options.

16GB RAM upgrade on the new macbook pro: $200 2x8GB SODIMM kit at crucial, $150. Yes, extorsion is exactly the word I'd have used in this position, indeed.

Can someone please explain to me why Apple apologists are generally incapable of using a price comparison service that requires maybe 10 seconds to use? Their behavior never ceases to baffle me.

CORSAIR 16GB for MacBook Pro - $89.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233...

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