The truth about memory upgrades

The memory industry is built on technology and marketing. With technology comes some attributes not so attractive, mainly in the areas of sub standard quality, economics, and oversupply. To give you an idea the road that is traveled during the process of memory module and the impacts that road has on the RAM upgrade bought online today we will attempt to shed light on the process.

Firstly, not all memory modules and the components used on modules are equal. There are vary grades and classes of chips and finished modules in the market today. When DRAM manufacturers process wafers and yield die to make memory components for DRAM ICs, there are never 100 percent yield rates. There is always a rate of fall out or defective units with the processed batch. This yield rate can play a role in prices going higher when technology advances and yields are not as high, thus quality supply can become short and thus the prices will rise. On the other hand if yield rates are very good, over supply can occur and prices may be soft and continually lower. DRAM makers generally strive to have a balance between supply and demand.

So what happens to the defective or non compliant components in the unsatisfactory part of the yield? In the old days it was destroyed, but as time has progressed it has become unheard of to simply throw away those batches of sub standard ICs or dies. Some memory module makers buy these batches of memory chips containing defective ICs, and then have the batch tested in order to select the chips for production on RAM modules. This lower quality of module is suitable for lower end machines that are not intended for harsh work environments, especially servers and are sold at lower than normal prices.

Many module makers simply do not know what they are buying or they can mix these effectively blank or black top chips together. There are two types, uTT and eTT. What is the outcome? RAM issues. Kernel panics, blue screens, random crashes, failure to boot and other hidden performance issues related to memory but never considered memory are known. eTT DRAM contrary to content on the internet are not full spec. Marketing and other comments found online would leave readers to think that these chips are of the top quality. It can be said but not proved. A classic example of this is eTT chips are not utilized for server applications. If only the marking on the chip was removed for third party branding then the server market would have a steady stable of buyers of this lower cost solution. Meanwhile uTT called untested also falls into this arena of really not being fully compliant with the intended spec of the chip, even after being tested.

Generic or house brands are typical. Marketing hype is added to add trust to these brands and sell modules for a lower cost. The real winners here are the module makers who establish business profit models based on these lower grade parts. This grade level is never procured by Dell, HP, IBM or Apple for PowerEdge or ProLiant servers as well as iMacs, MacBooks and more. However, online RAM sellers would try to have you think that inferior brands not made by DRAM makers are just as good, which is simply not the case.

Use prudence and strive to shop wisely. If you spend serveral hundred to multiple thousands on a computer, server or laptop spend the extra dollars to get what is right for you machine. Saving a little now may cause problems later.

Avoid third party names, brands that seem made up and rely on factory original memory trusted by top OEMs like, Samsung, Hynix, Micron, and Nanya. These brands what are specified in your system and are the best memory to upgrade with.