Memory crisis is getting so bad that even retro RAM prices are going to the Moon

Memory crisis is getting so bad that even retro RAM prices are going to the Moon(theregister.com)

57 points by speckx 3 hours ago | 10 comments

I work in e-waste recycling. Ever since the TurboQuant paper in March, I haven't been able to sell any DDR3. I'm guessing that the DDR2 and 3 this article is referring to is the actual memory chips, not modules/sticks that servers, desktops, laptops, etc. use, because the latter aren't moving.

kjs3 2 minutes ago | |

Wild guess, but maybe China has something to do with that? They've got a huge "recover->break down/strip->recondition->sell refurbs to manufacturers" industry pipeline that doesn't seem to much exist outside of China.

Felger 1 hour ago | |

Yep. Don't expect to sell those sticks on ebay at great price. Those new chips will be likely soldered to appliances like low end routers/APs, set top boxes, various adapters, low end systems, PLCs, IPBX, NVRs and various embedded devices.

I sold 7,2 Kg of DDR1/2/3 sticks two month ago, for gold recovery. As well as expansion cards, hdd PCBs and a few other things. Got about $600 from this.

olavgg 1 hour ago | |

Maybe you have priced it wrong? I just checked Ebay, a 16GB 12800 Registered ECC module goes for 40-50USD ea. That is crazy! Last year they were like 5 USD each.

qingcharles 45 minutes ago | | |

Agree. I was buying DDR3 16GB sticks for some laptops at $5/pop on eBay, now $60+ each.

Felger 1 hour ago | | |

Except almost nobody buys them, even last years for 10 bucks each. That's almost useless ECC Reg memory for HPE Gen 8 servers and workstations (from before late 2015 / start of 2016 with the introduction of the Gen9 using DDR4).

ECC unbuffered DIMMs (9 memory chips per side, no reg buffer/controller) is less available, quite widely used on level entry systems and thus costs a lot more even second hand.

michalpleban 1 hour ago |

The headline made me fear that I will need to shell out a few more bucks for 4164 DRAM chips, but fortunately this does not seem to be the case.

DDR3 is not "retro", for chrissakes.

lexicality 37 minutes ago | |

It was introduced barely 20 years ago. By that rationale the PS3 is a retro console

wlesieutre 13 minutes ago | | |

In 2000 when the PS2 came out was the NES a retro console?

It was 17 years old, or 14 years since wide distribution in the USA.

What counts as "retro" basically comes down to when the person you ask was born.

leni536 51 minutes ago |

It trickles down.