Soldered RAM replacement is not a DIY job

It’s technically possible, but the tools and skills required put it out of reach for most hobbyists.

You’d need a proper hot air rework station (not a heat gun), fine-tipped soldering iron, high-quality flux, solder wick, a BGA stencil and reballing kit, a microscope or inspection camera, and ideally a preheater for the board. Without those, you’ll lift pads or cook adjacent components.

The skills are harder: you need to be comfortable with BGA removal, pad cleaning, reballing, and precise placement. Modern thin laptops use multiple RAM chips in a matched set, and the BIOS often needs to be reprogrammed to recognize the new capacity. One slip — a bridged ball, a lifted pad, a hot spot — and the whole board is toast.

I wouldn’t try this as a first project. If you need more RAM, buy a laptop that supports it or get one with the RAM already soldered at the capacity you want. If you already bricked a board doing this, you’re not alone — and lesson learned.