When DDR5 prices rise, modders start making their own RAM
Russian YouTubers PRO HiTech shared an interesting approach to the DDR5 price hike. They are sharing a money-saving idea: build your own DDR5 RAM by combining empty modules with separate memory chips, as suggested by Viktor “Vik-on,” a known modder and repair technician. He says he is moving from upgrading GPUs with extra VRAM to assembling full DDR5 DIMMs.
The basic parts are now easy to source. Chinese sellers offer bare DDR5 PCBs with the trace layout already done, so the remaining work is buying the memory ICs and soldering them onto the board. Or alternatively, use existing laptop modules that still (sort of) cheaper.
Source: Taobao
They estimate that a 16GB module with average specs would still cost around 12,000 rubles to make, so it is not an obvious product to sell. The main use case is system builders who want to shave costs on complete PC builds, even if the savings per stick are small.
Source: Telegram
The idea still feels strange given that just two or three months ago, memory was much cheaper. Nothing suggests we will return to those prices soon, though. If DDR5 stays expensive, what started as a modder experiment could turn into a small business model.
Yesterday MAINGEAR introduced “Bring Your Own RAM.” Today it’s “Build Your Own RAM.” Next up, “Bring Your Own Brain,” with a BIOS update that asks you to reboot after coffee (I certainly need it).
Source: PRO Hi-Tech
