Maybe I’m jaded / cynical, but that seems like a pretty reasonable compromise. If you want to take responsibility and install your software from scratch then nothing is guaranteed. I’d take that deal.

Yeah I thought about this some more. I totally forgot that even on my PC I installed ram through a connector. So there is a capability, but my experience is just more in an embedded electronics place where it really isn’t standard just to save space and cost. We also theoretically know the requirements going in so leaving space to upgrade isn’t required like it is for a generic platform like a PC or steamdeck. I don’t think the typical DIMM connectors would work with the form factor, but a different connector could maybe do it. There could also possibly be reliability concerns with ram in a handheld around whatever movement the connector, is expected to deal with, but that couldn’t be overcome. So yeah it’s for sure possible but it would take some work.

I’ve been through a similar project, helping my dad as a teenager haha. It’s a beast, but sounds like you’re on top of it.

Is there an aquarium / fishkeeping community on lemmy? I know it’s kinda niche.

I just don’t think most / any connectors are going to be compatible with modern ddr speeds. Even doing the layout on these smd pads takes a lot of work to make it right. You’d be taking a major speed downgrade which would limit your performance way more than this ram amount upgrade overcomes.

Quick Edit: storage is another beast entirely where I agree with you completely. Looks like steam deck you can upgrade the ssd and it’s at least way easier than this. Comparable to a laptop.

Genuinely curious: why fuck Ubuntu?

Buddha says that you can either attempt to change nature, or come to terms that you will never change nature and must change yourself. Or something, im not a Buddhist.