DDR3 vs DDR4 Infographic
Author: Alex
5 Solutions for Used Memory
What to do With Old Memory Modules
Let me first start this off by saying congrats! For what you ask? Well, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably just upgraded your computer(s) and are now getting a faster, smoother performance. I’m assuming you have some computer memory sticks that you need to get rid of, but you’re not sure how. So, the question is, what do you do with your old modules? I’ll give you the five best ways to offload your old computer memory.
Sell It. This is the most obvious choice that will reap you the most reward for your efforts. You can either take the time to find a buyer yourself or take the easier, more efficient way of selling memory to a memory buyer. The memory market is big, and there’s a good chance you’ll be able to resell it.
If you’re opting to simply dispose of the RAM modules, then I recommend doing so via a reputable organization like WeBuyUsedMemory.net. Instead of paying them to take it off your hands, they will pay you a fair market value for what your memory is worth. The more memory you must sell, the more money you can make. Selling in bulk is key here!
Also, don’t be fooled by “free” recycling services. Let’s face it, nothing is “free”. These recyclers basically strip down old hardware for any serviceable and reusable parts, then dump what’s left in a landfill. There’s always a price to pay. That leads me to the next option.
Recycle It. A more socially responsible option is to recycle your old memory. Memory modules contain precious metals and other elements that must be discarded in regulated ways. Recycling is a good way to help the environment.
Donate It. Countless charities, schools, and community organizations must make do with outdated computers. Budget cutbacks require some local organizations like schools, churches, or even hospitals, to cut back on technology upgrades, leaving them searching for any hardware they can get their hands on. A simple memory upgrade can go far and help them increase the performance of their systems.
Hobby spaces or better known as, makerspaces are great places for computer RAM donations as well. There are countless ways in which memory modules can be repurposed, from teaching the basics of PC building, to salvaging the modules completely.
Give it to friends or family. You can be the person everyone likes and give your old memory to friends and family members who have similar computer systems. When giving old memory away to someone, make sure their motherboard uses the same level of memory technology as yours, otherwise it will be useless. In most cases, RAM that is removed from a PC or laptop can be reused in an old machine. If you take the time to check compatibility with the target device, this should be straightforward.
Reuse It. A great way to get a performance boost out of old memory is to use it as part of a RAM drive or RAM disk. Simply put, a RAM drive is a block of memory that your computer’s software treats like a storage drive and you can plug old RAM modules into
No matter what you choose to do with your old memory, there are several ways to put it to good use. They can be reused, recycled, sold, or donated. Of all the options mentioned, the most important thing to remember is to recycle it safely. Let’s all do ourselves a favor and keep the memory out of the landfills.
How to Sell Used Memory
Did your organization recently upgrade its system’s memory or purchase new computers throughout? If so, there are a lot of memory chips in all those old computers that are very valuable.
No matter what you do, before you take those old machines to a recycler or scrap yard, make sure that you remove the memory chips before you do. As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
The fact is, you can make money from selling unwanted or old computer memory. Surprisingly, it is also a quick and easy way to make cash fast. All the memory chips that you do not need can be sold for a price.
In this article, we’ll explain where you can sell them and how the process works.
Where can I sell my used computer RAM?
Sites like WeBuyUsedMemory.net make it very convenient to sell RAM in bulk. They’re buying RAM directly from businesses that have recently upgraded their systems or just have a large surplus in unused inventory.
Online memory buyers are typically more convenient and hassle free due to the minimal details needed to make an offer; which we will get into later in the article. In most cases, they offer good pricing, fast payment, and cover the cost of shipping for you.
WeBuyUsedMemory is an online purchaser of IT products, specializing in computer memory. They buy all sorts of memory chips from several different manufacturers. DDR3, DDR4, SODIMM, SIMM, DIMM, and RDRAM, the list goes on and on.
So how do you know how much a memory specialist company like that will offer you? Great question! The price offered usually depends on the market demand and supply of the chip(s) you want to sell.
As with any RAM buyer, there is no fixed price but the offers they make are very fairly assessed for these type products. Some popular and reliable sites for selling other products besides computer memory are listed for you as well.
Sell RAM to online auction sites
The masses of people who browse online stores for goods is vast to say the least. That makes online auction sites and ecommerce stores a great source for a massive audience. More often than not, the shoppers are also looking to get a good deal on RAM. Therefore, don’t be shocked when the asking price is much lower than that of a professional service like WeBuyUsedMemory.
When posting an online make sure to mention the specific details like the kind of RAM it is. For example, is it a “gold fingered RAM” or is it a “RAMBUS”. In addition, you have to mention the weight of the chip. With all these minor details not readily available to people, eBay, craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and similar websites become a little more complicated for those who are not as knowledgeable about the RAM you’re selling. Last but not least, be aware of scammers. The last thing you want is someone getting away with your memory AND your money!
Recycle the precious metals yourself
Another way to get money back from your used RAM is to dig out the precious metals like gold, silver and copper from it. This is by far the most time-consuming way and quite difficult without the proper tools and equipment. Save yourself the time and go online, compare offers, and make a good return.
There are many ways to go about selling used RAM. You can even post to your favorite online tech forums and see if you gain any interest from readers or followers. Regardless of where you decide to sell your used memory, there are a few criteria that you will need to follow in doing so.
List all details of the memory you want to sell
Think to yourself, what specifications would you look for if you were purchasing the same RAM.
Include the model of specific computer(s) that your component works with or that you removed it from.
Some buyers may actually be looking to purchase memory for these same machines.
Take plenty of pictures!
The more pictures the better! Especially if you have a large lot of memory to sell. Take photos of individual pieces so potential buyers can see as much detail as possible.
Mention any part numbers or specific markings
These are usually stamped on the computer part that might help the buyer. Pictures help here too.
Always be in agreement as to when you’ll get paid.
Don’t ship anything until you know when and how you will be getting paid. This is especially important when dealing with online auction sites.
What computer components are worth selling?
The options are limitless when it comes to selling your used IT assets and computer equipment. In this article we only covered RAM memory, but there are many others.
From CPU’s, hard drives, servers, data tape media, VoIP gear, networking equipment, and more. IF your enterprise has purchased a surplus of IT parts, and some of those used components are stuffed away closets, rooms, or storage facilities, SELL IT! Not sure what you can and cannot sell? Send us a list of what you have, and we’ll let you know if your equipment holds any value. You could be sitting on a pile of cash and not even know it.
DDR5 Announcement
DDR5 | COMING 2018
Last month I finally upgraded my PC to DDR4 RAM from the DRR3 it has been using since I can remember.
Then I saw a headline in an online forum that said DDR5 is primed for release in 2018!
Naturally, curiosity got the best of me and I had to dive in head first to learn more. Here is what I found.
JEDEC will be demoing the DDR5 memory in the next coming months.
For ever half a century, JEDEC has been the leader in developing open standards for the micro-electronics industry.
According to the tech innovator, DRR5 standard will be sampled in June 2018 with completing the standard by end of the year.
The mere idea of the DDR5 standard is creating waves of intrigued among many as it promises to double the memory bandwidth and density of DDR4.
DDR5 also guarantees an increase in power-efficiency although no specs have been released as of yet.
Unfortunately, much like when DDR4 was announced in 2012, it will be a few years before any of us have DRR5 memory available for upgrading our PCs.
The delay is mainly due to the fact that memory controllers in processors and integrated circuits (SoCs) require updates to support DDR5.
The chips typically take around two to three years to develop. DDR4 was finished in 2012 but didn’t begin to become common in mainstream systems until 2015 when Intel and other consumer processors added support.
DDR5 has no association with GDDR5 that was released in 2008. The ten-year-old GDDR5 memory standard is used for graphics cards and gaming consoles.
What the Future of RAM Holds
So, what lies ahead for the future of RAM?
I’m dreading the day I finally update my PC to DDR5 and read another headline announcing the release of DDR6.
All I know for sure is that RAM isn’t going anywhere. Not anytime soon anyways.
But if you do look ahead, there is potential for a memory-free future.
Intel is developing its Optane drives in an attempt to combine the capacity, density, and stability of SSD.
The speed of Intel’s Optane drive is getting close to that of the speed of RAM with ten times the latency.
As computing technology continues to advance, it may eventually eliminate the need for separate bands of RAM altogether, generating the ultimate swing in the way that processing devices work.
Arch Missions Foundation’s so-called Superman memory crystal may be on to something. Until then, I’ll continue to update my Ram and keep an eye out for the headlines.
LTO Storage in the Motion Picture Industry
the incredible comeback of lto
in the motion picture industry
do you remember
a time when movies were shot and recorded on those extremely large round reels of 35mm tape. In fact, most film producers still used 35mm recording film up until late 2008. It wasn’t until 2012 when digital recording finally over took film recording in the motion picture industry.
Why did it take so long to convert to a more modern recording medium you ask? In some instances, such as war films, tape recording gives off a more realistic imagery; but the main reason is storage.
In the case of movie making, hundreds of TB of data are being used; making the need for data storage a costly piece of production. Digital tape storage is a practical and inexpensive substitute to hard drives in regards to both long-term and short-term storage of video and other digital content. Not only is tape storage more stable, but it doesn’t require a technical know-how to understand and operate.
No one will argue the fact that improvements in digital technology has transformed the motion picture industry. Recording digitally has allowed film makers to manipulate the video directly through computer software. However, the industrial change from analogue to digital has not changed the need to store the scenes that were shot. The film that once existed in containers of tape reels was replaced by numerous hard drives. Even more so, the innovation of high resolution recording requires more storage than ever before.
Graphic from: https://stephenfollows.com/film-vs-digital/
Ultimately, an increase in efficient yet low-cost storage solution has led to the reescalation of tape technology. With hard drives becoming more expensive to purchase due to the abundance needed to store such massive amounts of data, tape is beginning to resurface in the film industry. Not to mention the efforts needed to maintain hard drives against hazards, the choice of switching back to digital tape has never been clearer.
LTO Tape as Film Storage
LTO (linear tape open) was developed as non-proprietary open standard in the late 1990s. It was originally designed to be another option to other patented formats existing at the time. Many view tape storage as an old technology. They’re not wrong to do so either. Magnetic tape has been used for storage and backup for over half a century already.
When LTO made its debut, it was accepted with open arms by several small to mid-sized businesses looking for low cost yet efficient storage needs. The standard form factor of tape storage is a magnetic cartridge that has the ability to hold 2.5 TB of data. Even more impressive is the shelf life of tape media storage, as the 15-30-year life cycle is well beyond that of any hard drive past or present.
How LTO Media Storage Works
The LTO data cartridge, otherwise known as Ultrium, is made of a ½” magnetic tape that is spooled around a single reel. The tape cartridge was designed to be easy to use by robotic tape libraries. LTO tape is built with the durability to withstand up to 5000 uses and up to 260 full data fills.
There are only a few licensed manufacturers of the LTO technology including METEC, Imation, Fuji Film, TDK, Sony, and Hewlett Packard. These manufacturers have equipped the LTO tape cartridges with a bar code technology that allows the LTO tape drives to recognize the different generations of the data tape.
The LTO drive’s tape head overlaps two neighboring servo bands. There are also two servo read heads and either eight or sixteen read/write heads. The LTO tape head assembly moves in a way that it can access all of the four wide data bands packed in between five narrow servo bands known as the Ultrium tape. The drive can read data from the cartridge in the same generation and at least the two prior ones.
The drive also writes data to its own generation of tape and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the format of that generation. On average, it can take anywhere between 80 seconds to 100 seconds to rewind a typical drive. Whereas it takes about 50 seconds for the drive to access the data from the beginning of the tape. In order to assist in keeping the cartridges’ clean, an internal cleaning brush is triggered when a cartridge is put in the drive.
Advantages of LTO Storage
A major benefit of LTO storage is its ability to detect and correct errors in the data. As data is written to the magnetic tape, it is validated by reading it using the read heads. This verification process allows the drive to write a second copy of data that fails to verify on its own. Additionally, an error correction algorithm is used to make data recovery possible.
As most are aware, modern hard drive are very fragile and can easily be broken beyond repair. On the other hand, an LTO cartridge is much more durable than a hard drive due to the fact that it has no moving parts. The durability of the TLO storage enables it to be transported with ease for offsite storage.
The LTO magnetic storage also uses no means of power or electricity to store data, unlike a hard drive that requires constant power flow in order to be accessible. Not only does the lack of power reduce energy consumption, but the speed of the most current generation LTO drives are equivalent with those of hard drives
Disadvantages of LTO
Despite the countless number of rewards that LTO offers, the technology by its character is prone damage by strong magnetic fields. For example, a pass-by of a bulk eraser will render the cartridge eradicated and unusable. LTO tape also requires a climate that is within a normal living temperature range. If you’re not comfortable, your LTO storage probably isn’t either.
Typically, the linear run of the tape, similar to a tape recorder or cassette player, throws out the ability for random-access. What this means is that the spooled tape makes it nearly impossible to locate a specific area of the data in an instantaneous manner. However, more recently a Linear Tape File System, or LTFS, was created in order to solve this problem. The LTFS, makes it possible to access files in the same way you would using a typical hard drive or flash drive
The Cost of Data Storage in Film Production
If we take a look at LTO tape storage from a cost-based perspective, many would say hard drives are way less expensive. With the initial costs structures, they would be correct. However, in the long run, tape always comes out ahead.
An LTO tape drive with the ability to read a tape with a 1.5TB cost around $1300.clearly, a 1.5TB hard drive costs significantly less. The LTO tape cartridges costs approximately $25 to $170 depending on the generation and tape capacity.
While the initial cost of an LTO tape drive is much greater than single hard drive, the value of LTO is found when dealing with several hundred terabytes of data.
Doing simple math can help visualize the savings seen with LTO. For instance, let’s say the filming of the latest action movie created 150TB of data. In order to store the high-resolution video data, we would need 100 1.5TB hard drives. If a hard drive cost on average $75, that would account to roughly $7500 in hard drive storage.
If we stored the same 150TB video recording on LTO tapes it would cost roughly $3800, half the price of the hard drives. How you ask? Let’s break down the math. One initial LTO tape drive costs around $1300. A 1.5TB LTO drive would come to around $25 for a later generation tape. 100 tapes would come to around $2500, making the total LTO storage investment $3800.
With a savings of approximately $3700, and due to more data being able to be stored, more savings would continue to accrue.
The Future of LTO Storage in the Motion Picture Industry
Due to its fundamental strengths and low cost of ownership, LTO magnetic media storage is a heavy favorite among video production teams for data archiving.
LTFS, also known as Tape NAS, and other improvements to the LTO technology have maintained a likeness among the tape faithful. Improvements like LTFS include a hybrid merging of the best features of LTO with that of hard drives.
A more recent advancement from Sony is the innovation of a storage tape using a magnetic coating measured in tens of nanometers. The recording capacity achieved by Sony’s invention is seen as being approximately 74X that of the current magnetic tape storage media. With that being said, the resulting storage capacity would be over 185TB per data cartridge.
As of right now there hasn’t been any dates set for the release of the product. However, the advances in tape technology demonstrate a viable future that eliminates the number of tape cartridges needed to store massive amounts of data.
Video production teams require backups and storage of their video data. The use of LTO as a storage medium for video can only surge over time. As more motion picture professionals become mindful of the low cost fused with safety and security offered by this local storage technology, the future of tape in video production will only grow.
Upgrading RAM
So, your PC isn’t exactly operating with the speeds you would like it to.
Let’s cut to the chase, it’s time for an upgrade.
Not necessarily an upgrade to the entire system, but an upgrade to the RAM within your machine.
Not sure where to start?
Follow our simple step by step process of upgrading your RAM… the right way.
First Things First.
There is a HUGE difference between desktop memory and laptop memory.
They’re NOT interchangeable!
This is the first step to the upgrade, selecting the right type of RAM.
The two factors that will influence the type of RAM you choose are the motherboard and the operating system.
The motherboard has a limited number of slots to plug the RAM into.
The operating system has limits on the amount of RAM you can use.
We will address both of these separately.
The Motherboard
Your computer’s motherboard will regulate the amount of RAM that can be installed.
Simply put, the motherboard has a limited number of slots that the memory can be plugged into.
The slots, otherwise known as dual in-line memory (DIMM) slots, are different from laptop memory slots.
Laptop motherboards and RAM use SO-DIMM.
Many older computers also use single in-line memory modules (SIMM).
Refer to your computer’s user manual to determine the amount of RAM your motherboard can handle.
The motherboard also establishes what kind of RAM you should chose. Most PCs use the following types of RAM:
- DDR2 SDRAM(double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory) –Found in computers made before 2007.
- DDR3 SDRAM(double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random-access memory) – Found in computers made after 2007.
- DDR4 SDRAM(double data rate fourth generation synchronous dynamic random-access memory) – The newest generation of RAM that is found in the latest PC builds.
The Operating System
The operating system that your computer runs has a direct affect on the RAM that you can use.
The OS has an influence on the amount of RAM that your computer uses.
For example, the maximum amount of RAM that a PC running a 32-bit Windows 7 operating system can use is 4GB.
Other Windows 7 RAM limitations include:
- Windows 7 Home Basic: 8 GB
- Windows 7 Home Premium: 16 GB
- Windows 7 Professional: 192 GB
- Enterprise: 192 GB
- Ultimate: 192 GB
The maximum amount of RAM that a PC running a 32-bit Windows 8.1 operating system can use is 512GB.
Other Windows 8 RAM limitations include:
- Windows 8.1: 128 GB
- Windows 8.1 Professional: 512 GB
- Windows 8.1 Enterprise: 512 GB
The maximum amount of RAM that a PC running a Windows 10 operating system can use is 2TB.
- Windows 10 Enterprise: 2TB
- Windows 10 Education: 2TB
- Windows 10 Pro: 2TB
- Windows 10 Home: 128GB
Other RAM Specifications
Speed
The memory speed is measured in MHz.
If you’re measuring your computer’s performance speed will be noticeable.
Otherwise you probably won’t notice the difference between an 1866 MHz memory module and a 1333 MHz memory module.
Measuring performance speed is more important for server workstations that handle larger computing loads.
Timing
Timing, also known as latency, is represented by four numbers separated by dashes.
A rule of thumb is the lower numbers correspond with better performance.
Multi-Channel Kits
Some motherboards support multi-channel memory.
A multi-channel memory kit enhances performance.
In order to accommodate these kits, RAM can be bought on a system specific basis.
A Beginners Guide to Computer Memory
A Beginners Guide to Computer Memory
We’ve all experienced the frustration that comes with working on a computer so slow that it seems like it takes a lifetime just to get any work done.
We may even begin to describe the connection speed with words we wouldn’t dare use if our grandmothers were in the room with us.
However, the blame may solely land on the computer’s memory and its capacity to execute the commands it is given.
Even most novices are aware that upgrading the computer’s memory usually enhances its performance, but have you ever wondered why?
Before we explain why it makes such a drastic difference, let’s understand the role computer memory plays in the not-so-complicated system.
Memory Simply Explained
Close your eyes and picture yourself sitting at one of those tiny desks in your high school classroom.
You know, the desks that had the one arm rest and the wire basket attached to the bottom of the uncomfortable plastic chair.
Your teacher approaches you and asks you to sort a stack of colored papers.
The papers are an assortment of red, green, blue, and yellow.
You start to sort the papers but soon realize the small desk you are at will only give you enough room to sort one color at a time.
Now if you were sitting at a much larger desk, like the teacher’s desk with the big chair, you would be able to sort all of the colored papers at the same time, decreasing the amount of time it takes to sort them.
Assume a computer’s memory is its desk. With more memory, a computer will have more room, resulting in more things being done at once.
In principle, each time an application is opened the computer has to load the application program as well as the data file to be edited.
The more memory the computer has, the more work it can do at one time; increasing speed and performance.
Memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) as it is more commonly referred to is the computer’s form of short-term memory.
A computer’s RAM can be accessed without even touching the hard drive, which is why it has a direct correlation the speed and performance of the machine.
In a nut shell, RAM is what allows the computer to run faster and smoother.
Especially when you are trying to use several different programs and applications at the same time.
Why Upgrade RAM?
Remember how earlier in the article we talked about cursing the computer because of its lagging performance?
Well that’s why you might want to consider upgrading the RAM.
Upgrading the computer’s RAM is all based on your preference of speed and performance.
If you want your computer to perform at a high level, then upgrade it.
A great way to check a computer’s performance and available RAM is by using the Window’s Task Manager application.
Open the Window’s Task Manager application and select the performance tab.
The box labeled Memory (MB) will display the amount of RAM being used at that specific time.
A good but unwritten rule is that if the computer’s available memory is less than 25 percent of its total memory, then you might want to upgrade it.
Upgrading the RAM will deliver a visible performance boost in your favor.
How Much RAM is Enough RAM?
Now that you’ve decided (or still on the fence) to upgrade your computer’s memory, how much RAM you actually need depends on what you intend to use the machine for.
Are you going to continue using it for the same purpose as before, or do your future intentions include running multiple applications simultaneously?
Also, other factors to consider are how long you plan on keeping the computer and if your system even allows post-purchase user upgrades.
If you only plan on keeping it for a short time before replacing the entire system with a newer model then why waste the time and money on the upgrade?
Keep in mind that the average PC becomes obsolete after only 3 to 5 years after its manufacture date.
Do some research before taking apart the body of your computer too. Some systems don’t allow post-purchase user upgrades.
The reason some laptop manufacturers have stopped allowing memory upgrades after they’re purchased is to reduce the thickness of the body.
Adding more memory to a laptop usually only increases power consumption by a small amount, which shouldn’t be a problem for most consumers.
It’s also better to have a bit too much memory than too little.
Apple’s MacBook Air has 4GB of RAM, whereas a majority of the systems from Dell, HP, and others start at 8GB.
Any user can easily get by on 4GB, but 8GB gives you a bit more “desk space” to get the job done more efficiently.
A moderate computing system today can get by with 4GB of RAM with no problem.
8GB of RAM should be more than enough for current and future applications.
16GB of RAM gives users a comfortable amount space for the future.
Any amount of RAM over 16GB is most likely going to be too much unless a task specifically needs it.
Tasks that might require a large amount of RAM would be thing like video editing or audio production.
What Do I Do With My Used RAM After I Upgrade My System?
So, you’ve decided to take the leap and upgrade your computer’s RAM.
Congratulations!
I hope the increased performance is all you’d hoped it would be.
But now you have these used memory sticks just laying around and don’t know what to do with them.
First things first, DO NOT throw them away.
The chemicals that are used to produce the RAM can be extremely toxic to the environment.
Do what any good business man would do, sell them. RAM holds its value long after their original systems retirement.
We Buy Used Memory can help you or your organization receive fair market value for your used RAM all while keeping it out of the local landfills.
Contact one of our IT experts today and they’ll walk you through our simple, no hassle process of getting the most for your used equipment.
You’ll be happy you did.