Upgrading the soldered-on RAM of a Dell XPS13 7390 laptop (gregdavill.github.io)

Article summary

The author, an electronics engineer, upgraded the soldered-on RAM of their Dell XPS13 7390 laptop from 8GB to 16GB. They used LPDDR3 memory chips sourced from Aliexpress and performed the upgrade using a hot air gun and other specialized tools. The process involved desoldering the original RAM chips, reballing the new ones, and soldering them onto the motherboard. The upgrade was successful, with the laptop's BIOS and operating system recognizing the increased RAM.

Main themes

• laptop upgrade and repair
• Dell quality and practices
• schematics and reference designs
• Intel secrecy
• laptop design and manufacturing
• consumer electronics and hobbyist projects

What commenters say

• Some commenters noted that Dell's quality and practices have been questionable, with issues such as premature battery failure and faulty connections on the motherboard.
• Others shared their own negative experiences with Dell laptops, including high-pitched whines, loose keys, and overheating issues.
• A few commenters suggested alternative laptop brands, such as Framework and Thinkpad, that prioritize repairability and quality.
• There was also discussion about the availability of schematics and reference designs for laptops, with some arguing that Intel's secrecy around these documents stifles innovation and hobbyist projects.
• Some commenters believed that the secrecy around reference designs is due to NDAs and legal bureaucracy, while others thought it was a way for Intel to make money by only providing designs to large-volume customers.
• The use of non-standard power supplies and motherboards by Dell was also criticized, making it difficult for users to repair and upgrade their laptops.
• A few commenters mentioned that they had successfully sourced schematics and reference designs for their laptops, which helped them with repairs and upgrades.