Russians are assembling DDR5 memory at home to avoid prices

Russian enthusiasts are riding DDR5 memory own amid the global shortage of components, soldering memory chips onto empty boards imported from China to overcome high prices and lack of stock on the market. The initiative emerged on the Telegram channel of Russian YouTuber PRO Hi-Tech, where modder Viktor “Vik-on” shared the alternative solution that could cost around $152 per 16 GB module.

The idea was born out of necessity. With RAM stocks drying up globally and prices soaring with projections to rise by 2028, while some consumers look for alternatives such as SODIMM-to-UDIMM adapters, the Russians decided to go further and literally manufacture their own memories. Viktor “Vik-on”, known for performing VRAM upgrades on video cards, identified an opportunity to apply his technical skills in a new market.

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How homemade assembly works

The assembly process requires two main parts. Empty DDR5 boards can be purchased from Chinese suppliers for just $6.40 each, with the circuit layout ready. The real challenge lies in the memory chips, which need to be purchased separately on Chinese marketplaces, where it is possible to find SK Hynix and Samsung components using the correct part numbers.

According to calculations presented on the Telegram channel, assembling a 16 GB module with average specifications would cost approximately 12,000 Russian rubles, equivalent to 152 dollars. This value is close to the price of a 16 GB retail kit on the current market, making the alternative economically viable only in specific scenarios, such as system integrators looking to reduce costs in complete builds.

Assembly step by step:

1. Purchase DDR5 blank boards from Chinese suppliers, which come with complete circuit layout
2. Purchase memory chips on Chinese marketplaces by searching for the correct SK Hynix or Samsung part numbers
3. To save money, desolder chips from used kits or laptop modules that use the same integrated circuits
4. Perform the reballing process on the removed chips, preparing them for the new installation
5. Solder the memory chips onto the blank board using a BGA rework station
6. Test the assembled module to check functionality and timings

Performance and technical quality

The technical quality of homemade memories is surprising. A screenshot of the ZenTimings software shared in the group shows modules with CL28 timings, indicating that even high-performance DDR5 memories can be built using this method. However, for more advanced specifications, the savings no longer make sense, as the cost of premium chips significantly increases the final price of the product.

There are even more economical alternatives to obtain the necessary chips. Used kits can serve as a source of components through desoldering, and memory modules for laptops are especially interesting because they use the same integrated circuits as desktop versions. The chips are removed from the donor board and reinstalled on the new PCB through a process called reballing, a technique previously seen with DDR4 memories.