Can the RAM on the HP Stream 14-ax012ds be upgraded?

Honestly and as a still practicing old computer technician that worked for DEC Compaq and HP, I can say that it's a maybe. Upgrading the RAM on the HP Stream 14-ax012ds involves several factors and potential quirks.

Upgrade Possibilities and Challenges

Some of these units have the individual memory chips soldered directly onto the motherboard, which can't be upgraded. In other models, the standard memory module is permanently glued and soldered directly onto the motherboard, a tactic that seems unnecessary and perhaps a result of a lack of available memory sockets during production. The latest versions have a memory slot, but often with just 2GB or 4GB DDR3 or DDR4 memory modules.

Extreme Case Studies

Even in the most recent examples, these units don't routinely accept higher capacity memory modules. During a recent servicing job, I attempted to upgrade a friend's unit to its maximum capacity, which was 8GB, according to the processor's addressing capabilities. The result was that the board wouldn't boot with the new module or the old one. In the end, I had to replace the entire motherboard, a costly and time-consuming task. The motherboard simply would not boot anymore, which is a sad state of affairs.

Issues and Defects

There is a massive number of these motherboards available online that are defective, and very few that are still working. The working ones often command a high price. Locating another working motherboard for the same model has taken me almost 6 months. The memory modules themselves are functionally sound, but there seems to be a design or manufacturing defect with this line of units. This leads to a large number of dead or damaged similar systems in the market. Interestingly, HP even designed the motherboard with a connector for an M.2 SATA hard drive, but did not implement it, instead settling for low-capacity onboard storage units that severely limit upgrade options.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In summary, the process of upgrading the HP Stream 14-ax012ds is fraught with challenges. If you plan to upgrade, be prepared for potential issues such as motherboard failure. For those with multiple units, sharing replacement parts or searching for alternative models with better upgrade options may be a more viable solution. Always ensure that any upgrade follows the manufacturer's guidelines to avoid unnecessary complications.