Hackaday · Creativity & design

Raspberry Pi RAM Upgrade Restrictions Deemed Minor

Recent bootloader changes limit RAM upgrades on Pi 4, Pi 5, and Compute Modules, but the impact is considered minimal.

Bootloader changes restrict RAM upgrades on Pi 4, Pi 5, and Compute Modules, limiting part choices but not basic repairs.

The restriction is bypassable by reflashing an older bootloader. Users skilled in RAM swaps can also downgrade the bootloader.

The change, around September 2024, targets resellers upgrading modules with unverified RAM and reselling them at a markup.

Complaints indicate widespread issues with "upgraded" boards from online marketplaces failing due to bootloader checks.

The author views this as consistent with RPF's history of security checks and closed-source practices, prioritizing usability.

Raspberry Pi's strength is its community and ecosystem, not deep hardware hackability. It's hardware for hackers, not hackable hardware.

The RAM upgrade limits are a minor inconvenience, protecting users from faulty hardware and misrepresentation by resellers.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.