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), or even Crucial as their owner (Micron) is one of the 6 high-end RAM manufacturers thus the quality is overall better than the RAM "re-packers" usually provide. When you buy a SODIMM that is made by a major RAM manufacturer you are likely to have a better tested product and RAM that's placed on a top quality 6-layer PCB (as I learned from Brent most all of the re-packers use a cheap 4-layer PCB which is not as reliable and is "noisier"). Oh you can still get a bad one, but not as often in my experience, and the mysterious problems later on that can't easily be attributed to bad RAM rarely show up. When they do, these SODIMMs are easier to exchange under warranty (sometimes no questions asked!) as the sellers know they will have no problem returning them to the manufacturer for credit. I tried to exchange one under a re-packer's "lifetime" warranty and going to the dentist was less painfull. My experiences, yours may be different as I know we have a lot of "RAM is RAM" folks on this forum!OK, so I find this seller called Data Memory Systems [ http://www.datamemorysystems.com/ ] who advertises "Major Brand" RAM. Their prices are quite good and they seems to have a long-standing business, so I wrote a detailed e-mail asking exactly WHAT does "Major Brand" mean, when most of the RAM being sold today claims to be such. Here is the response I received (I gained some knowledge from it):
"You are correct. Major brand chips are all basically the same. [That was in reference to a question I asked him about the 6 major manufacturers] .....You don't know how many customers ask me what brand we have and I tell them Samsung or Micron and they have no idea who that is. Why [do they] bother asking?
There are generic chips out there though. Not all modules are built with major brand chips. There are a ton of modules being built with remarks or seconds. Kingston has a ValueRAM which is built with a generic chip. I know Crucial has used SpekTek chips before. SpekTeks are a Micron second. [So not only do these cheaper SODIMM sellers use inferior PCB's but they mount second quality RAM chips on the boards!!!] We offer an EconoRAM line which is built with a generic chip. But our standard DMS Certified parts are built with a major brand chip on a 6 layer board. Major brand being any one of the brands you mentioned. They are not Samsung originals or Micron originals but they are a Samsungs or Microns and a third party, 6 layer board.
All of our DMS Certified memory modules are tested here in our in house test lab to assure the highest quality. They are all backed by our lifetime replacement guarantee. That's an advanced replacement guarantee. Meaning you tell us there is a problem and we send you the replacement before we even receive the questionable chip back. We don't hassle you and make you prove it's defective. We take your word for it. We will deal with it when we receive it back. No one could afford to do that unless they were using the highest quality components.
Currently the 2GB DDR2 SODIMMs we have in stock are built with Micron chips on a 6 layer board. I hope that answers your questions and instills some confidence that we are great memory provider.
- Justin B."
I was impressed enough with Justin's answer to give them a try. The price on that 2GB DDR2 SODIMM was very good too. I will report back when mine arrives and I have a chance to run with it. Maybe I found another good source for RAM (besides Brent & Crucial).
I am not associated with this company in any way and I offer this information as a source (and resource) for forum members. Do your own research and make your own decisions based upon your comfort level, knowledge, and your pocketbook.
- Yak
& cockatoos