Brand value is always a major motivating factor in any buying decision, especially when you’re making a direct upgrade to your PC. While GPUs, CPUs, motherboards, and storage drives are well-known for their various brands, you’ll find plenty of unbranded RAM sticks on the market.
These RAM sticks are often sold for much cheaper than their same-specced, branded counterparts. But is it a good idea to buy them? As it turns out, yes, it is.
Why I bought unbranded RAM
If you don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount of money to upgrade an older machine, unbranded RAM can be one of the cheapest upgrades you can make. So I decided to replace my old laptop with an 8GB Kingston DDR4 memory module with an unbranded RAM stick with similar specs.
In my case, DDR4 SODIMM RAM modules aren’t very expensive. The 8 GB Kingston module in my laptop only cost $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’ll get from an unbranded RAM stick will change as you look for older memory types. On average, the price difference between branded and unbranded RAM will decrease as you look for older RAM types.
Does the same specs mean the same performance
In most cases, yes. As long as the specs of 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 replacing all of the RAM in your computer with new sticks, you’ll want to match the specs with the RAM sticks you already have in your device. Keep an eye on the capacity, speed, and if possible, latency rating.
Generally, the more RAM your PC has, the better performance you’ll get. I’ll emphasize this by saying that sometimes faster RAM is better than more RAM, but if you’re upgrading an older machine to make it more reliable, adding 8GB more memory can make a big difference, regardless of speed.
Things to keep in mind
If unbranded RAM sounds like a good idea, keep in mind that it’s not all good news. There are a few things you should keep in mind before installing a RAM stick, as it can cause more harm than good.
Beware of false advertising
The unbranded market is full of fakes and counterfeits, so it’s best to be wary of false advertising or fake specifications, especially if you’re shopping online. A good way to spot fake products is to pause for a moment and consider whether the price is too good to be true. If you see a 16GB DDR5 CL8 RAM stick selling for ten dollars, chances are there’s something fishy going on.
It’s always a good idea to look up the exact make and model on the internet, so you can see if you can find any reviews, spec sheets, or alternative listings that can confirm the specs for you. You should also take the specs of unbranded modules with caution – there’s a reason they’re quite cheap, and the accuracy of the spec isn’t always a reason.
Keep an eye on 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 actually check the tiny components soldered onto a RAM stick, checking things like the material of the connector can help you decide whether to make a purchase.
For example, the RAM modules I bought had tin connectors instead of the usual copper ones. This doesn’t have a huge impact on speed, and the RAM stick isn’t something you’ll be taking in and out of every day, but it does affect longevity. Sometimes, it can even hurt performance, so it’s always a good idea to check.
Pay attention to the form factor
Finally, it’s important to pay attention to the form factor or type of RAM you need. This is like paying attention to false advertising, as online listings of unbranded RAM modules can sometimes state the wrong memory type, such as DDR5 instead of DDR4, or the wrong form factor, such as SODIMM instead of DIMM.
These cases aren’t very common, but you may come across them if you’re tech savvy. The best way to avoid this is to know exactly the form factor, type and specs of the memory module you want, read the full product description and keep your eyes open.
Unbranded RAM can be a quick and easy upgrade for your old or existing machines that can help you get more performance while saving unnecessary expenses. Make sure you know what you need beforehand, do a little research and you’ll have a great upgrade in no time.