Key Takeaways
- Unbranded RAM can be a cost-effective upgrade for older machines.
- Matching specs ensures performance but beware of false advertising.
- Quality, form factor, and research are key when considering unbranded RAM.
Brand value is almost always a major driving factor in any purchase decision, especially when making a direct upgrade to your PC. While GPUs, CPUs, motherboards, and storage drives are well-known for their various brands, you’ll find quite a lot of unbranded RAM sticks on the market.
These RAM sticks are often sold much cheaper than their equally-specced, branded counterparts. But is buying them a good idea? As it turns out, yes, it is.
Why I Bought Unbranded RAM
If you don’t want to spend exorbitant amounts upgrading an old machine, unbranded RAM can be one of the cheapest upgrades you can make. That’s why I decided to pair the 8GB Kingston DDR4 memory module in my old laptop with an unbranded RAM stick carrying the same specs.
In my case, DDR4 SODIMM RAM modules aren’t very expensive. The 8 GB Kingston module in my laptop only costs about $23, and cheaper options from lesser-known brands are spread all over Amazon. So it’s not like you’re saving hundreds of dollars, but every penny counts.
The exact price and value you get from an unbranded RAM stick will change as you look for older memory types. On average, as you look for older RAM types, the price difference between branded and unbranded RAM will shrink.
Do the Same Specs Mean the Same Performance?
In most cases, yes. As long as the specs between your two (or more) RAM sticks match, you’re good in terms of performance. Our list of the best laptop RAM in 2024 is a good starting point for the specs you should be looking for.
However, unless you’re swapping out all the RAM in your computer for new sticks, you’ll want to match the specs with the existing RAM stick in your device. Keep an eye out for the capacity, speed, and if possible, latency rating.
Generally speaking, the more RAM you have in your PC, the better performance you’re going to get. I’ll caveat this by saying that sometimes faster RAM is better than more RAM, but if you’re upgrading an older machine to be more reliable, slotting in another 8GB of memory can make a world of difference, regardless of the speed.
Things to Watch Out For
If unbranded RAM sounds like a good idea, keep in mind that it’s not all good news. Here are some things to be aware of before you install a RAM stick that does more harm than good.
1. Beware of False Advertising
The unbranded market is full of dupes and fakes, so it’s best to watch out for false advertising or fake specs, especially if you’re shopping online. A good way to spot fakes is to stop for a moment and consider whether the price is too good to be true. If you see a 16GB DDR5 CL8 RAM stick being sold for ten bucks, chances are something fishy is going on.
It’s always a good idea to look up the exact make and model on the internet to see if you can find any reviews, spec sheets, or alternate listings that might confirm the specs for you. You should also take specs on unbranded modules with a grain of salt—there’s a reason they’re significantly cheaper, and spec accuracy isn’t always the one.
2. Keep an Eye Out for Quality
Another reason unbranded RAM modules are cheap is that they use lower-quality specs, which often result in lower performance or a shorter lifespan. While you can’t realistically check the tiny components soldered onto a RAM stick, checking things like the material of the connector can help you determine whether or not to make the purchase.
For example, the RAM module I bought had tin connectors instead of the usual copper ones. This doesn’t affect speed by a lot, and RAM sticks aren’t something you’ll be pulling in and out every day, but it does affect longevity. Sometimes, this can also hurt performance, so it’s always a good idea to check.
3. Watch Out for the Form Factor
Finally, it is important to watch out for the form factor or type of RAM you need. This is similar to watching out for false advertising, as online listings of unbranded RAM modules can sometimes state the wrong memory type, like DDR5 instead of DDR4, or the wrong form factor, like SODIMM instead of DIMM.
These cases aren’t very common, but you will encounter them if you go tech dumpster diving. The best way to avoid this is to know exactly the form factor, type, and specs of the memory module you want, read through the entire product description, and keep your eyes open.
Unbranded RAM can be a quick and easy upgrade to your old or existing machines that can help you get more performance while saving unneccesary expense. Ensure you know what you need in advance, do a little research, and you’ll find a decent upgrade in no time.
