Raspberry Pi Locks Down RAM Upgrades
In a current video [Jeff Geerling] addresses an issue found with the Raspberry Pi firmware, particularly how since round 2024 the firmware locks down what RAM measurement and even module is supported. This isn’t a difficulty that’s extensively recognized, in all probability as a result of most individuals simply use the board as-is, but it can be an unpleasant surprise for these seeking to improve or restore their Pi.
Naturally there’s a legitimate purpose for wanting to stop unscrupulous RAM module modifications, with a [Geekworm] blog post from earlier this 12 months detailing this precise subject and the way every board is marked with a particular code that identifies the mannequin, RAM measurement, RAM producer and such. Based on the sooner linked discussion board publish and in addition a 2025-era GitHub ticket on the rpi-eeprom undertaking, the ensuing signs appear to differ from not seeing the extra RAM to the board not booting in any respect.
Although you may return to an older EEPROM firmware picture to work round this, it’s nonetheless very annoying that that is even a factor. As additionally famous by [Jeff], the first frustration right here might be certainly one of possession. When you may improve the RAM on nearly any system you should buy, together with a contemporary GPU and even Apple pc, however not on a Raspberry Pi board that likes to flaunt its open supply/{hardware} credentials, then one thing may be very a lot off.
In the top it’s extremely unlucky that Raspberry Pi has chosen this path that feels a bit an excessive amount of just like the {hardware} pairing that corporations like Apple bought rightfully known as out on.
