https://www.cnx-software.com/2022/04/21/bga-socket-allows-ram-upgrades-on-sbcs/ Skip to content CNX Software - Embedded Systems NewsCNX Software - Embedded Systems News CNX Software - Embedded Systems News Reviews, tutorials and the latest news about embedded systems, IoT, open-source hardware, SBC's, microcontrollers, processors, and more Orange Pi Development BoardsOrange Pi Development Boards Menu * All News * Raspberry Pi * Arduino * Reviews * Tutorials * Shop * About + About + Contact Us + Advertisement & Consulting Services + Work for Us + Support CNX Software + Privacy Policy Posted on April 21, 2022April 21, 2022 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 15 Comments on BGA socket allows RAM upgrades on SBCs BGA socket allows RAM upgrades on SBCs In most cases, both the eMMC flash and RAM are soldered on single board computers, but we've previously boards with eMMC flash modules that allows to optionally add storage of various capacity and speed. But today I learned something similar exists for RAM chips with a socket that allows you to clip a BGA chip to change RAM capacity. The BGA socket is simply soldered on the board instead of the RAM chip itself, and as demonstrated on the MangoPi MQ Pro board, you could then insert the chip on the board instead of soldering it. BGA RAM socket / InterposerBGA RAM socket / Interposer Those are the specifications of the "DDR3x16-96" socket used above: * Materials + Socket base: LCP (liquid crystal polymers) + Contacts: BeCu (Beryllium Copper), selective Au-Au flash over Ni plating * Insulation resistance - 1000 MOhm or more at DC 100V * Dielectric withstanding voltage - 100V AC for one minute * Contact resistance - 50 mOhm max, at 10mA and 20mV max (initial) * Operating temperature - -50degC to +150degC * Life span - 10,000 times (mechanical) * Operation force - < 2.0 kg max You'll find the PCB pattern and those specs on the PDF document released by MangoPi. It appears the socket is designed to go through several insertion/removal cycle with a 10,000 times life span, but it's unclear how hard is it to remove. But once inserted, it looks firmly in place. This type of socket has a name, as Tom Fleet explains on Twitter, it is called an "interposer", and one of the main manufacturers of such sockets is Samtec. The model used in the board is "JRS DDR3x16-96" according to the PDF released by MangoPi, but I was unable to find it anywhere. While it looks neat, I'm not convinced we'll see barebone single board computers where users can insert their own eMMC flash and RAM any time soon, since it would likely add to the overall costs. A more likely use would be for board vendors wanting to test RAM chips from various vendors and of different capacities. jean-luc aufranc cnxsoftjean-luc aufranc cnxsoft Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011. Share this: Support CNX Software! Donate via PayPal or cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or buy review samples Tagselectronics NVIDIA Jetson TX2 NX embedded PCNVIDIA Jetson TX2 NX embedded PC Related posts: 1. SPIDriver Tool Allows you to Control and Monitor SPI Devices from your Computer (Crowdfunding) 2. Connect Multiple Rotary Encoders to Arduino, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi, etc... with I2C Encoder V2 (Crowdfunding) 3. This Soldering Pen Board with Audio Jack Supports Weller RT Tips 4. Kicad 5.0.0 Open Source EDA Suite Released 5. MUSTOOL MT99 is a $14 Smartphone-shaped Digital Multimeter Connect with: FacebookFacebook GoogleGoogle TwitterTwitter Subscribe Login Notify of [new follow-up comments ] [ ] [>] guestguest Label [ ] {} [+] [ ] [ ] Name* [ ] Email* [ ] Website [ ] I agree to the Privacy Policy The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. [ ] [Post Comment] guestguest Label [ ] {} [+] [ ] [ ] Name* [ ] Email* [ ] Website [ ] I agree to the Privacy Policy The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. [ ] [Post Comment] 15 Comments oldest newest WillyWilly Willy 2 days ago This is awesome! I don't understand what manages to keep the chip in place though. I don't imagine seeing this on SBCs any time soon either, because right now most of them just hard-code the DDR timing parameters in a blob provided with the boot loader. Supporting various timings requires more complex training code and even to retrieve the supported settings from an I2C flash that's usually found on the memory stick. In this case it's simpler for the board's maker to use a SODIMM socket and suggest the customer to buy their own RAM sticks. Reply WereCatfWereCatf WereCatf 2 days ago Willy Yeah, I don't see these ever becoming popular, but....that doesn't stop me from wishing they did! Would be quite frankly wonderful to be able to easily swap the RAM-chips out on some of my old SBCs for bigger ones, even if it also required flashing an I2C EEPROM with new settings for them. I'll have to remember these sockets, so I can at least use them in my own designs. Reply tkaisertkaiser tkaiser 2 days ago Willy > In this case it's simpler for the board's maker to use a SODIMM socket Since you are speaking of 'board'... which kind of SoC or CPU should go on that board then? At least those from the 'Android e-waste' category all lack (SO-)DIMM support for obvious reasons. Reply Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) Author Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) 2 days ago Willy In most cases, a single Linux image is used for boards with various RAM capacities (e.g. 1GB, 2GB, 4GB...). So is the only problem here is with using RAM chips from different IC vendors? If the board vendors offered a short RAM compatibility list, would that work? Reply anonymoushindeiruanonymoushindeiru anonymoushindeiru 2 days ago Willy from the photos, it looks like the chip needs pins. pins and sockets. friction. Reply Echo_HotelEcho_Hotel Echo_Hotel 8 hours ago Willy Given the overall amount of engineering required to select the material for each individual solder ball on a chip (yes some really do go that far) many ICs come with the solder balls already in place, sort of like pins on older chips, the socket is probably latching onto that like an old ZIF socket (old style CPU socket). Reply MarkMark Mark 2 days ago I wonder if this makes board manufactures lower their price, since having more SKUs doesn't affect production ( since all are socketed ) Reply AnonymousAnonymous Anonymous 2 days ago I would like to see slightly larger boards with SO-DIMM slots. Can Pico-ITX fit 2x SO-DIMM slots? I found a few with only 1, but they should be vertically stackable... Reply zmlopezzmlopez zmlopez 2 days ago I've found the JRS manufacturer web: http://en.icsocket-jrs.com/wproducts_content-164128.html But there aren't more information there. Reply PetePete Pete 2 days ago I'd expect to see this appear on user-serviceable electronics such as Fairphone. Right to Repair legislation might incorporate replaceable RAM. Reply tkaisertkaiser tkaiser 2 days ago Pete Yeah, already looking forward to Fairphone users setting up a VM for an antique OS environment to be able to install the SoC vendor's BSP to adjust the DDR timing parameters or to tweak memory timing algorithms to finally compile a new firmware BLOB. But maybe Fairphone uses a SoC where DRAM initialization is open sourced so it's just fiddling around in u-boot? The average DDR chips lacks SPD and the average 'Android e-waste' ARM SoC lacks capabilities or even contacts to make use of SPD and as such SO-DIMMs aren't possible as well. Reply TheguyukTheguyuk Theguyuk 2 days ago What's needed is a high speed extend bus SDcard that can run at full board memory speeds. Click it in fit heatsink off you go . A very small SSD. Reply WereCatfWereCatf WereCatf 2 days ago Theguyuk That would be pointless. Sure, SD Express does support 4xPCIe-lanes in an SD-card package, but that's just the bus -- it says nothing about actual achievable read/write-speeds, latencies or sustained performance. Besides which, those cards would cost a fricking arm and a leg! No, if you want a small SSD, an M.2 NVMe is BY FAR a more realistic option. Reply TheguyukTheguyuk Theguyuk 2 days ago WereCatf That's what's Bios and standards are for . Reply David WillmoreDavid Willmore David Willmore 2 days ago I've worked with Samtec before and they're a great manufacturer. We needed a custom socket for a hobby project (500to 1K volume) and they had factory engineers call me to work out the specs. We ended up buying them as well. Probably the second best support after Microchip. 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