Mac Studio Storage Upgrade - Made EASY with Custom Parts

In this video, I perform a massive storage upgrade on an M1-based Mac Studio, upgrading it from its original 512GB of internal storage all the way to its maximum of 8TB. To accomplish this upgrade, I was originally planning to use a second factory NAND module that I bought off eBay. However, when Gilles of Polysoft Services told me about his plans to create a completely custom NAND module PCB design, I definitely had to give that a try instead. After installing a set of 8 blank 1TB NAND chips on a couple boards he sent me, I was able to get this Mac Studio upgraded to 8TB without a hitch, or having to rely on being able to find these normally hard-to-find boards!

Once Gilles has these boards available for sale, I will add appropriate links here.

0:00 Intro
6:06 Original 512GB storage speed test
7:49 Reballing new NANDs
13:32 Soldering the new NANDs
17:26 Installing the new modules
18:29 DFU restore and initial testing
20:31 Final testing and conclusion

[lululombard]

This is huge! Aftermarket Mac Studio/Mac Pro storage should exist!

[JeffGeerling]

This is awesome. Though having to know how to use a hot air station and source custom new NAND chips just to upgrade storage is a bit crazy (that's on Apple!)

[sssloe]

I've seen China make 315 to 110 adapters but custom boards for nand blanks are actually ingenious. Not sure who the guy behind the design is but major props to him for the idea.

Not sure if commercial push for such a project is legally clean but such boards would also be a great DIY project if the designs were leaked and "open source"

Great work as always Colin ❤

[yoshikinanami]

Yooo if someone starts selling pre soldered modules we’d almost be back to the old Mac Mini days!

[themysteriousspeeddemon]

Now my hopes of upgrading my M2 storage has been slowly but surely, becoming a reality I look forward to seeing the progress of these SSDs becoming common place.

[autobahngringo]

I love the "just like thats" and "simplys" Let's all go out and get our NANDS and modules!

[Mbro-dqdo]

How the fuck does Colin only have 100K watchers?? Hes a genius. Thanks for teaching me some dope shit bro.

[readtedium]

I hope someone mass-commercializes this process. (Polysoft should get OWC on the line!) Apple should not have a monopoly on storage.

Great stuff, Collin.

[sokoloft]

Man you make BGA stuff look easy. I de-soldered a 980 YFC SMC from a 820-3435 board/laptop I got for $20. Has corrosion damage, and it was under that SMC. I need to order a new SMC now and a stencil (just in case, it comes pre-ball with lead-free). Got a little spooked when my wick stuck to the BGA pads, but none ripped. First time doing BGA and had to get a new hot air station to be able to do it.

[MilesLabrador]

man, y'all in this community are legends. I was stoked when I found you through the 2021 Macbook Pro SSD Upgrade videos. Thanks for the quality content!

[lopwidth]

Great news. Time to get the market flooded with quality modules for people to upgrade or replace broken ones and keep those machines going

[cesarespinozaspain]

SWEET BABY Congrats! I'm having a drink on your behalf!!!!

[timb]

Awesome! While I'm a huge fan of Apple equipment overall - their policies lately (and the fact that everything is soldered at the factory) is a real downer. Back in the day, you could do upgrades on various things - even in the laptops - but now they're just big throw-away phones. It's refreshing to see some bold moves on the aftermarket professionals doing such things - thanks!

[britishagent]

I don’t even own a MAC and found this fascinating

[Nicefisher]

Idkk what it is but there is something very calming / soothing / satisfying about your voice here lol

[bsvenss]

Great video and great work! I've always been a fan of yours since your first macOS patcher. Thanks mate.

[mikepxg]

THE MAC Brain surgeon. So talented. Love these videos. Thank you.

[mllarson]

Absolutely disgusting how much Apple charges for upgrades from the base model. Boards like this one are a real game-changer for sure. I am assuming that Apple will happily void your warranty for using "unauthorized parts"? I see locking these memory modules behind a serial number like they do for other parts in the future as this will cut into Apple's bottom line.

Excellent work!

[pkhnuzk]

Why has no one made custom NAND sockets for the apple silicon computers? Sure it'd probably be very expensive, but even a proof of concept. We know apple uses NAND sockets internally for testing (not meant for production obviously) so theoretically it's doable.

[HalfOgre]

It's like watching a sorcerer work his magic!!!