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Raspberry Pi Locks Down RAM Upgrades
Hackaday • • technology
Key Points:
- Jeff Geerling highlighted a recent Raspberry Pi firmware change that restricts supported RAM size and modules, causing issues for users attempting upgrades or repairs since around 2024.
- The firmware locks are based on a unique code identifying the board's model, RAM size, and manufacturer, leading to symptoms ranging from unrecognized additional RAM to failure to boot.
- While reverting to older EEPROM firmware can bypass the restriction, it remains a frustrating limitation, especially given Raspberry Pi's open-source and hardware ethos.
- This move contrasts with the broader tech trend where users commonly upgrade RAM on devices like GPUs and Apple computers, raising concerns about ownership and user freedom.
- The decision has drawn criticism for resembling restrictive hardware pairing practices often associated with companies like Apple, which Raspberry Pi fans might find disappointing.
