Thinkpads Forum

Why are 4GB sticks of DDR2 so expensive?

What are the chances this is real? https://www.ebay.ca/itm/224252026466?ha ... SwRcNfv2eV

I have paid 75€ more or less for 8gb DDR2 SODIMM, is it expensive or not?

With eBay you always run the risk that it could be counterfeit but it's about the right price to be what it says it is, in terms of DDR2 4GB SODIMMs. About $100 USD/pair is considered the average going rate.

DDR2 is very old now and by the time the industry was capable of manufacturing the 4GB SODIMMs, it had long since moved on to DDR3. As a result there really isn't any "old" stock of takeout 4GB DDR2 SODIMMs in the used market to keep prices in check, unlike the 1 or 2 GB SODIMMs. Since the number of systems needing (or even supporting the high density) 4GB DDR2 SODIMMs is minuscule by comparison, it's not manufactured in huge quantities... as long as enthusiasts like us place a high value on them the price remains high. We should be grateful that they're even manufactured new.

devinfriday wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:01 pm

I have paid 75€ more or less for 8gb DDR2 SODIMM, is it expensive or not?

Well, compared to DDR3 or DDR4 .. yes.

theterminator93 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:08 pm

We should be grateful that they're even manufactured new.

Agreed.

OneByteCPU wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 18, 2021 5:43 pm

Why are 4GB sticks of DDR2 so expensive?

What are the chances this is real? https://www.ebay.ca/itm/224252026466?ha ... SwRcNfv2eV

From my understanding, Micron/Crucial seemed to produce an awful lot of these RAM sticks for Macs as before the Tim Cook days, it's not unusual for companies to upgrade their Macs' internals midway through their lifespan.
I have a lot of these Micron 4GB sticks, and their manufacturing date range from 2011 all the way to late 2016! So this is the only logical explanation I can give.
I still have those if you are interested.

devinfriday wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:01 pm

I have paid 75€ more or less for 8gb DDR2 SODIMM, is it expensive or not?

Okay that's crazy overpriced even if you are just relying on eBay... Even without me relying with Chinese sources directly for better prices, I can sometimes get a pair for something like C$65, which is far cheaper than 75 euros...
If you aren't at the right place at the right time, these things can be really hard to hunt for... I would only consider purchasing these when I find good deals locally on 2nd hand markets, get a lot of them, take some and sell some pairs here at the price of barely more than a single stick on eBay...

kfzhu1229 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:21 pm

I still have those if you are interested.

Yes, I might just be. PM me with details ..