ASUS RT-AX86U RT-AX88U 2048MB 2GB RAM

[chavo]

made 2GB of RAM.

1) you need to replace 2 memory chips with DDR3 800 11-11-11
(DDR3L DRAM 8G, 1.35V, DDR3L, 512Mx16, 1600MT/s @ 11-11-11, 96-ball )
for example
MT41K512M16HA-107:A
MT41K512M16HA-125:A
IS43TR16K01S2AL-125KBLI (it is 2GB but works)

chips on taobao - https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=613596877778
on ali https://aliexpress.ru/item/32983556319.html

2) flash the modified firmware (editing mdtblock - the router will become a brick)

Spoiler

How to change another firmware so that 2GB works?

You need to compile the firmware, but before that change cfe
27150400000000004A01 replace with 27160400000000004A01

  cd ~/asuswrt-merlin.ng/release/src-rt-5.02L.07p2axhnd/targets/cfe/sysdeps/RT-AX86U
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/g' cfe4908.bin
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/g' cfe4908ram.bin
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/g' cfe4908rom.bin
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x4A\x01/g' precfe4908rom.bin

PS here on the RT-AC86U router https://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac86u-1024mb-ram-support.69877/
PS0 4GB will not work
PS1 echo 70 > /proc/sys/vm/overcommit_ratio so that programs use more memory

md5: b61ddd0062090b2749a2f877dd35e960

78.71 MB file on MEGA

mega.nz

Full memory dump
md5: 1a8029858ff127e4e34425afb9fb8a59

150.94 MB file on MEGA

mega.nz

 

[chavo]

ASUS RT-AX88U 2048MB 2GB RAM​

md5: e1827d1fae9add50f94ccfb06f15fa35

75.3 MB file on MEGA

mega.nz

Full memory dump
md5: a66e8e9e6ae27942efedcae6d1c94039

149.8 MB file on MEGA

mega.nz

Spoiler

How to change another firmware so that 2GB works?

You need to compile the firmware, but before that change cfe
27150400000000003B01 replace with 27160400000000003B01

  cd ~/asuswrt-merlin.ng/release/src-rt-5.02axhnd/targets/cfe/sysdeps/RT-AX88U
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/g' cfe4908.bin
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/g' cfe4908ram.bin
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/g' cfe4908rom.bin
  sed -i 's/\x27\x15\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/\x27\x16\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x3B\x01/g' precfe4908rom.bin

 

[Compyfreak]

This is exactly what I want for my mini NAS build. Can this be done by altering the official firmware? Or do I need to use Merlin? Thanks!

 

[Tech9]

See the Spoiler in post # 1.

 

[Compyfreak]

See the Spoiler in post # 1.

I did check the spoiler, I see a reference to the Merlin firmware, but I don't know if that's because OP likes Merlin or that it isn't possible to alter the original firmware.

 

[chavo]

I did check the spoiler, I see a reference to the Merlin firmware, but I don't know if that's because OP likes Merlin or that it isn't possible to alter the original firmware.

modification of bytes in the firmware, not a fact that will help
modify cfe + compilation = work
Merlin's firmware contains information on the memory configuration for each router
in fact, modifying the cfe is a modification of the memory configuration for this router

 

[joseph2438]

Full memory dump
md5: 1a8029858ff127e4e34425afb9fb8a59

150.94 MB file on MEGA

mega.nz

i need Asus RT AX86U Full Dump , is it original memory dump or modified.
my Router Completely off , No lights are lit,
so Is this dump ok for me?
Thank you.

 

[chavo]

i need Asus RT AX86U Full Dump , is it original memory dump or modified.
my Router Completely off , No lights are lit,
so Is this dump ok for me?
Thank you.

i think ok

 

[VntValenzuela]

Hello, I have bought the ASUS RT-AX88U, but the Pro version (RT-AX88U Pro), which has 1 GB RAM, but from what I have read it is DDR4.
I would like to upgrade it to 2Gb, is it possible? Which memory should I buy?

 

[L&LD]

Welcome to the forums @VntValenzuela.

Not possible. Unless you have a very specific skill set(s).

Rt-ac68u 512/1gb ram upgrade!

This week i will have another AC68U and im gonna try to replace the memory chip (512mb) like i did on WL500GP (128MB) and RT-N16 (256MB), probably will still be needed to change nvram values to recognize the entire memory capacity, anyone knows the correct commands values to change it to 512MB...

www.snbforums.com

 

[chavo]

you need to find out what kind of memory model is used there
to increase the memory you had to do two things: change the memory chip and change in firmware memory configuration

 

[VntValenzuela]

you need to find out what kind of memory model is used there
to increase the memory you had to do two things: change the memory chip and change in firmware memory configuration

Thanks, any suggestions on how to find the memory model? Or do I have to disassemble my router to see?

 

[chavo]

FCC ID MSQ-RTAX6800 AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router by ASUSTeK Computer Inc

FCC ID application submitted by ASUSTeK Computer Inc for AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router for FCC ID MSQ-RTAX6800. Approved Frequencies, User Manuals, Photos, and Wireless Reports.

fccid.io

RTAX6800 AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router Teardown Internal Photos ASUSTeK Computer

AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router Internal Photos Pt 1 details for FCC ID MSQ-RTAX6800 made by ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Document Includes Internal Photos Internal Photos

fccid.io

memory k4a4g165wf-bctd

 

[VntValenzuela]

and change in firmware memory configuration

FCC ID MSQ-RTAX6800 AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router by ASUSTeK Computer Inc

FCC ID application submitted by ASUSTeK Computer Inc for AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router for FCC ID MSQ-RTAX6800. Approved Frequencies, User Manuals, Photos, and Wireless Reports.

fccid.io

RTAX6800 AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router Teardown Internal Photos ASUSTeK Computer

AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router Internal Photos Pt 1 details for FCC ID MSQ-RTAX6800 made by ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Document Includes Internal Photos Internal Photos

fccid.io

memory k4a4g165wf-bctd

Thank you very much! I have found this memory:
https://www.datasheets.com/en/part-details/k4a4g165wf-bctd-samsung-electronics-409067952#overview
Which is made by Samsung will this do fine? It is 4Gb

 

[L&LD]

Be sure the RAM capacity is within the limits of the SoC you're trying to attach it to. I believe 4GB is beyond that limit.

 

[chavo]

DDR4 | DRAM | Specs & Features | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung DDR4 RAM offers reliable top speed with increased bandwidth and delivers speeds up to 3,200Mbps, capacities up to 32GB, and 1.2V voltage.

semiconductor.samsung.com

The router has 2 k4a4g165wf-bctd chips, 512 MB each (256M x 16). To increase it, you probably need 512M x 16 or 1G x 16 or 2G x 16. Theoretically, 8GB can be supplied. I looked at the sources. It’s not immediately clear what code is responsible for the memory configuration. The configuration is different from DDR3 memory. The configuration file is asuswrt-merlin.ng/release/src-rt-5.04axhnd.675x/shared/opensource/boardparms/bcm963xx/boardparms_4912.c. There is a similar router gt_axe16000_2gb with 2 GB of RAM. You can understand it with an example.

 

[VntValenzuela]

Thanks very much, I will try my best regarding de SoC which is Broadcom BCM4912 I couldn't find the RAM capacity limits.

DDR4 | DRAM | Specs & Features | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung DDR4 RAM offers reliable top speed with increased bandwidth and delivers speeds up to 3,200Mbps, capacities up to 32GB, and 1.2V voltage.

semiconductor.samsung.com

The router has 2 k4a4g165wf-bctd chips, 512 MB each (256M x 16). To increase it, you probably need 512M x 16 or 1G x 16 or 2G x 16. Theoretically, 8GB can be supplied. I looked at the sources. It’s not immediately clear what code is responsible for the memory configuration. The configuration is different from DDR3 memory. The configuration file is asuswrt-merlin.ng/release/src-rt-5.04axhnd.675x/shared/opensource/boardparms/bcm963xx/boardparms_4912.c. There is a similar router gt_axe16000_2gb with 2 GB of RAM. You can understand it with an example.

​

 

[JohnieBraaf]

Hi Chavo, thank you so much for your detailed instructions.

I've managed to order the parts you linked from aliexpress and succusfully patched the firmwre to allow for the memory to be used.

All went smoothly. Many thanks, this gives me much more headroom as I was running out of memory before.

Just out of curiosity, how did you find out how to patch the firmware.
Did you search for specific values in the binaries? Any special software you advise.

Thanks again!

 

[chavo]

Hi Chavo, thank you so much for your detailed instructions.

I've managed to order the parts you linked from aliexpress and succusfully patched the firmwre to allow for the memory to be used.

All went smoothly. Many thanks, this gives me much more headroom as I was running out of memory before.

Just out of curiosity, how did you find out how to patch the firmware.
Did you search for specific values in the binaries? Any special software you advise.

Thanks again!

in short: 1) found the code responsible for the memory configuration in their codes 2) compiled it before and after changing the configuration 3) compared the files binary

 

[JohnieBraaf]

Impressive reverse engineering skills! Thanks for sharing