RAM is getting more expensive. But what options are there if you want to save? MeinMMO has looked at the best options.
The prices for RAM have been rising sharply for several months. But what options are there if you want to save a few euros?
MeinMMO has examined the best possibilities and explains which ones are really worth it and which alternatives you should avoid.
Black Friday
How good is the option? To put it briefly: not very good. When it comes to RAM, you can hardly save anything on Black Friday. In particular, on Amazon and other large hardware platforms, you’ll feel the rising prices.
You won’t find any real “genuine” discounts on RAM. Only artificial discounts that look good because sellers have significantly raised their prices shortly before.
Comparison Portals
How good is the option? Moderate to good. If RGB lighting and other accessories don’t matter much to you, you might still find some cheap RAM kits through comparison portals like Idealo or Geizhals with a bit of luck and patience. In a sample, we found 16 GB DDR5 memory for just under 70 euros. That’s actually acceptable in comparison.
But: If you want to upgrade a system, you need compatible memory with similar clock speeds and latencies (CL). Then it can get expensive quickly. However, if you’re building a system from scratch, you’ll be a bit more flexible when buying RAM.
Small kits (8 GB and 16 GB) are also available at a lower price because they are offered much more frequently than kits with larger capacities.
Used Goods on eBay
How good is the option? Moderate. On eBay and other platforms for used goods, you can still have a chance at cheaper RAM. But prices are currently rising sharply here too. Many scalpers are already trying to sell DDR5 memory for 250 euros per 16 GB.
There is also a certain risk that the RAM may be damaged and you won’t have any warranty for the RAM when you buy it used. Nevertheless, with a bit of luck, you can still get RAM cheaper.
Upgrading Old Systems with DDR4
How good is the option? Actually quite good. You can save the most money if you stick to the old DDR4 platform. If you don’t need modern DDR5 memory but older memory, you can actually save money or at least pay less.
While DDR4 has also become more expensive, it hasn’t risen in price nearly as much as DDR5. However, you need to have the compatible CPU socket. For AMD, these are sockets AM4 (DDR4) and AM5 (DDR5): You can read about the differences between sockets AM4 and AM5 on MeinMMO.
For older Intel CPUs, you still have the advantage that they support both DDR4 and DDR5, but not simultaneously. Here, the mainboard is crucial. The LGA 1851 socket, on the other hand, only supports DDR5.
Taking RAM from Friends/Family
How good is the option? If you have good friends or acquaintances who have upgraded their old systems, they might still have old RAM lying around. Here, too, one might be able to strike a good deal without having to pay a lot.
Again, the old RAM must be compatible with your system if you want to add it.
Buying a Gaming PC
How good is the option? Depending on how old your current PC is, buying a new one might be worthwhile. Large manufacturers like Dubaro, CSL, or One.de often purchase hardware in large quantities and therefore get it cheaper, which makes the prices for pre-built PCs lower in shortages than if you buy the components individually. However, the costs for a new PC are usually significantly higher than what RAM alone would cost you.
Buying a new gaming PC just to strip it for RAM afterwards is hardly worthwhile at the moment.
A while ago, the manufacturer G.Skill sold golden RAM for a lot of money. For the golden model, you paid easily 400 euros or more, which is no less than what a mid-range graphics card would cost. But today, the prices aren’t much better: Golden RAM costs almost as much as a graphics card, but is even available
