this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2024
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I really don't know where you're looking because I only see that in business-class laptops and even then not all of them have soldered RAM.
And I'm already counting the ones with one expansion slot with the soldered bunch.
Of course, if you paid attention only to HP, Dell and Lenovo, then I'd see why you'd think so. But beyond those brands, you don't have that soldered nonsense everywhere. At the very least, you have things like Clevo, Framework and the like to sell you laptops without soldered ram.
I bet there are even websites that let you filter laptop models without soldered ram. Personally, I only know about Germany-based websites like that, though.
You are looking at previous-gen platforms.
E.g. for Framework, you're looking at APUs like the 7840U, which is not current gen. It's two generations old. (7840U/Phoenix > 8850U/Hawk Point > AI 9 365 (awful naming btw AMD)/Strix Point).
Like I said, all current CPU gen laptops cannot use SODIMM. I really hope that changes though.
And let me be clear here, I'm not exaggerating for effect; I do not mean most of them. I do not mean the vast majority of them. I do not mean practically all of them. I literally mean all of them. 100% of them. Every single one that exists.
AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm do not currently have compatibility with SODIMM on their newest gen mobile CPUs.
I hope that changes, and I expect it eventually will, but as it stands right now, no you cannot have SODIMM modules if you are buying any laptop with the newest gen CPUs.
Well fudge me sideways. Every day is a school day.
They've all got LPDDR5, so yeah, you're unfortunately right. It feels kinda weird having to consider the 7000 and 8000-series last gen already; true as it is, though.
Don't worry, the latest chips were just built to only handle CAMM2, a new removable RAM standard that replaced SODIMM
It's a bit confusing though because both soldered and CAMM2 are listed as LPDDR5 on spec sheets, from what I've looked at it appears if there's an x at the end of the LPDDR5 it should be CAMM2
It's also brand BRAND new, so I'm sure quite a few manufacturers rushed out the door with the new chips just soldering on the RAM because they couldn't get CAMM2 in it in time for whatever reason