Macbook air 8GB Ram upgrade?

Not really. None of the MBA models have 8 GBs of RAM so you can't replace the motherboard with one that can accommodate 8 GBs. So I think the overall answer to your question is, "No."

I think the only real option is to de-solder the memory chips from the board, and re-solder larger chips and the SPD module...assuming you can find it and it fits.

This is not something you can do at home (not even if you are the best solder-er on the planet as they are BGA modules), though...and it may not even work anyway.

A new Air mainboard will cost almost as much as an Air. The solution is to get an Air if they come out with more memory. If you're doing something that needs 8GB, you really should have a Pro...or a desktop.

The high end MacBook Air really needs 8GB of RAM.

Just as aquatonic mentions, running Chrome/Firefox + Skype + Text Editor + Terminal + Misc. only works if you have a couple tabs open, otherwise the machine starves for RAM.

I know a MacBook Pro supports 8GB, but I don't need the DVD drive at all for my work (and it seems that's where the bulk comes from). The lower CPU chip hasn't been an issue since I'm not doing any large video editing or rendering.

Crossing fingers.

The MBA with 4GB handles better than a MBP with 4GB undoubtly because data swapping to an SSD is much faster than to a mechanical hard drive. Would it be nice to have 8GB? Yes. But my experience has been that a MBA with 4GB pretty much feels like a MBP with 8 GB.

Does Apple have an option to upgrade to 8GB? I have read on the forums of people going to the Apple Stores and getting their ram upgraded from 2GB to 4GB (obviously for a price).

You might have heard of it, but it has "never" happened... at least not by Apple. It's very unlikely that it has been done by anyone else either, but it's not technically impossible. There is no 8GB option and Apple does not offer any sort of option for upgrading existing machines. Some people get confused by the language on Apple website where they say you can go from two to four GB only in their "online" store. That basically means for systems they typically ship with 2GB (like the 2GB/64GB model), you would have to actually order a CTO build to get 4GB. They would not do that in the store. It would be manufactured that way.

They may do that some point within the return window or as a "one-off" they will switch out a logic board with 2GB for one with 4GB and hold the 2GB in spare parts.

An 8GB logic board does not exist...at least not one that's available to you. To upgrade to 8GB you would have to desolder the RAM chips and Serial Presence Detect (SPD) chip and resolder them in. And then...MAYBE...if the RAM capacity passes as valid by the EFI.

They're Ball Grid Array (at least the RAM modules) and de-soldering and re-soldering is not possible to a home user...or even a repair shop. You'd basically need a re-flow oven...and even then if you manage to upgrade the modules you'll just wreck the rest of the board anyway.

The only way it'll happen is if Apple makes a logic board with 8GB from the start. They don't, so you can't.

@ JoeyR and @hansolo247

Thanks for clarifying that - exactly what I wanted to know. That said, I've never come close to using my 4GB of ram in my Macbook Air - loving it. I have 24GB of 1666Mhz ram in my custom built (by me) PC gaming system - so I'm used to going overboard. <cough>.

No way man. My regular MacBook (not pro) upgraded to 8GB runs faster than my Mom's MBA 4GB. Once you get past like 5 tabs on chrome or firefox and you have any other program going, the sludge poors on. sloowwwwwwww.

I have to assume you are talking about the original MBA. Comparing my 2011 MBA with 4GB of RAM to my colleague's 2011 13" MBP with 8GB and a standard drive, my MBA is more responsive. We both routinely run Word, Filemaker Pro, Safari, Mail, and I have Photoshop CS5 running which he doesn't. I don't see any bog down except when Parallels is starting its guest application.

I disagree. Open a few tabs in Chrome with iPhoto open. You'll be wishing for 8gb too. As a web developer, it'd also be nice to launch a Windows VM to test on IE. I'd love to see an 8gb Air.

Does Apple have an option to upgrade to 8GB? I have read on the forums of people going to the Apple Stores and getting their ram upgraded from 2GB to 4GB (obviously for a price).

I want to do the same thing but mine never slows down or gets sludgy MBA is the **** for daily usage thats for sure! must be a way to do it tho