Everything about the soldered RAM in new computers and why companies rely on it
Dell was one of the first manufacturers to start marketing soldered RAM similar to MacBooks, but this has become a trend. Most ultra-thin, high-performance gaming laptops incorporate this change.
Soldered RAM is permanently attached to the laptop motherboard, so it cannot be easily removed. Future upgrades and repairs are more complicated than small in-line dual memory modules (SO-DIMMs).
Some users have started complaining on Reddit, claiming that this new feature is significantly increasing the price of laptops and their repairs due to the difficulty of performing RAM upgrades. Computer manufacturers say the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: they are more efficient, have a longer lifespan, and cool better.
- Soldered RAM saves space and extends battery life
HP’s director of experience engineering, Haval Osman, explained that the company is betting on soldered RAM because of better integration in some of its top models. Efficiency is another aspect that has come to the fore, Digital Trends reports .
One of the main benefits of soldered RAM is the ease of saving space in ultra-thin PCs. “Battery life, form factor (thin and light) and power efficiency are the company’s priorities,” explains Osman.
Computer manufacturers are working with limited space, especially on lightweight laptops. Apple was the first brand to introduce soldered RAM to free up some space for other essential components. Brands have followed this trend in recent years and more and more models are abandoning the old RAM modules.
Apple had to create its own SoC that integrated the GPU, CPU, and memory. Soldering the RAM to the motherboard allows it to fit virtually anywhere on the computer, and now it can play with space.
Modern laptops typically use low-power DDR (LPDDR) RAM. These soldered modules are a good choice because of the power savings. Thermal efficiency is also higher because of the ability to choose where the memory is located.
AI jobs require higher bandwidth and soldered RAM is offered as a solution. “The increase in data transfer speed can lead to a 3% to 5% performance improvement,” explained Stuart Gill, Lenovo’s communications director, although this may be imperceptible to customers if SSD storage is low.
-Is it cheaper to produce soldered RAM?
Welded modules are thinner and some manufacturers claim they are easier to assemble. Welded parts do not require as much supervision on the assembly line and can be assembled by machine. Older models with RAM and memory card slots require an engineer to inspect each computer.
The price of these components is identical because what changes is the assembly process. Companies emphasize the form factor (assembly and space usage) and not the supposed benefits of buying RAM.
Even some brands like Lenovo deny that soldered RAM makes a difference in price for buyers. The technology is advanced and it’s just a cost-cutting measure for manufacturers.