So I know that the s3000 comes with 1x 4GB SO-DIMM of DDR3L RAM installed.
Has anybody ever upgraded by throwing in another 4GB module to total 8GB? My thinking is that it might speed things up after boot with regards loading screens initially, perhaps giving more headroom? Not sure if it might even help with the fun times I have trying to get USB drives formatted in the surface for recording. I know it wouldn’t hurt having more anyway. More RAM is always a good thing (up to a point at least).
If you have upgraded, do you perhaps know of any particular makes/models that will work with the one that is in it? I think I found one that will match, but I am not 100% certain.
Searching the exact model number from Advantech comes back with some pretty pricey results for what it is.
This one I found works out at about €30
This other one I found is about €13
The company (OWC) primarily makes RAM for Mac computers, but that means nothing and the specs appear to be the same as far as I can tell.
The only surface I have had open is the C2500. The SBC that it uses is a (possibly custom) variation of an off-the shelf ITX motherboard. The PCB was designed to allow a second RAM slot, but this version does not have the connector installed.
Assuming that the S3000 has a different SBC that actually has a second physical RAM slot, then I would expect that any RAM that is compatible with the SBC would be available to the OS. Whether more RAM would actually provide a benefit to the UI application is another question.
I think you should go for it and report back here 
But seriously, I’m curious if there would be any performance benefit. Maybe @ah_support could chime in?
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I’m tempted.
I might go for the cheaper option I listed that has the same specs.
Worst case scenario is it just won’t boot.
Best case scenario, I unlock the Matrix and dive deep into a whole new world of speedy audio 
I know that the s3000 does have a second user accessible RAM slot for a second module alright.
It’s just making sure that the modules I am looking at with the correct specs on paper ARE in fact compatible with the already existing module that is in the surface.
Does the S3000 SBC match the Advantech AIMB-215?
The SBC in the C2500 is clearly some variant of this motherboard. The part number and the feature set does not match exactly; I suspect it might be a custom manufacturing run with select features included/omitted.
Perhaps the Advantech data sheet can give guidance about compatible memory.
I’ll be honest in taht I have no idea what an SBC is. I can’t say I have ever heard the term before.
I am not sure what type of board it is in the surface as I only had a brief look during a repair being done on a manufacturing defect on the screen. I noticed the one SO-DIMM module installed, and that there was a second vacant slot, so I took a quick snap of the SO-DIMM in case I wanted to upgrade down the line.
The specs on the SO-DIMMs I have found seem to match just fine, but I was looking to see if anyone had some real life experience in case there was one timy spec I overlooked or that was not as well discussed that would mean it wouldn’t work.
Sorry - SBC stands for Single Board Computer. It’s the motherboard. I guess A&H call it the Controller Printed Circuit Board Assembly.
Gotcha. That makes sense now. I am pretty decent with computers, but had never heard that term before, strangely.
Just to bring this back up due to thinking of another possible issue.
If there are any A&H reps reading this, can you please confirm what the maximum amount of RAM allowed is that the system can recognise?
I found a kit of 2x8GB sticks for a decent price, but no point in going for it if the system will only recognise say 6GB total for example.
Thanks.
