Unified memory is quietly killing SO-DIMM, and mini PCs prove it's already happening

Unified memory architectures, pioneered by Apple Silicon and now adopted by AMD's Ryzen AI Max series, are increasingly appearing in mini PCs — traditionally known for upgradeable SO-DIMM slots. As demand for local AI workloads grows, requiring both powerful GPUs and large memory pools, soldered unified memory offers performance advantages that are driving manufacturers away from user-upgradeable RAM. CAMM2 is another emerging alternative, but unified memory is the more significant long-term threat to SO-DIMM's dominance in compact form-factor machines.