Buy DDR3 RAM

Buy used DDR3 RAM at low prices - a proven standard for servers

Even though DDR4 RAM and DDR5 RAM modules are now widely used for servers, there are still numerous different scenarios in which servers with DDR3 RAM are still a sensible choice. For example, companies that have a proven IT infrastructure and do not yet require an immediate switch to newer technologies use systems with DDR3 architecture, as do start-ups, very small companies with a low IT budget or those for whom a switch is imminent but who still want to give the existing server a purpose (and possibly an upgrade). These budget servers are also very interesting as backup servers for cold data, for test environments or for school and teaching purposes. As is the possibility of upgrading these systems as required and thus getting the most out of them.

Used DDR3 modules also offer a cost-effective alternative to new memory solutions. Most of these modules also have error correction and, just like the successor technologies, DDR3 ECC RAM modules minimise memory errors and ensure stable server performance. Even if the price saving is probably a very important point for most companies, the issue of sustainability is also an important aspect of reusing used hardware. This reduces electronic waste, conserves valuable resources and even older RAM modules can still be put to good use (for certain applications).

However, DDR3 server RAMs and other remanufactured RAM modules should only be purchased from hardware professionals like us. This way, you can be sure that both the devices and the components have been tested for functionality and optical integrity and that you are receiving a flawless, high-quality product. As our customer, you also benefit not only from a wide and deep range, attractive prices, but also fast delivery and expert advice.

DDR3 RAM variants and advantages

We have already described in detail in our blog post ‘Server RAM upgrade’ that a RAM upgrade in the server requires a bit of planning and skill. Not every server system and every application place the same demands on the memory modules. This is why there are different ‘variants’ of DDR3 RAM modules, each with their own characteristics and advantages.

Factors such as capacity, stability and the area of application - i.e. the ‘server type’ - play important roles here. This is because the sizing of the server also largely depends on its use, i.e. a database server requires completely different equipment to a domain controller or file server, for example. (You can also find out more about configuring servers and server components in our blog.)

The three main types of DDR3 server memory modules are: UDIMM, RDIMM and LRDIMM. We will go into these in more detail below:

• DDR3 UDIMM modules
  These modules are rarely found in servers and are therefore more likely to be used in workstations or small servers (such as NAS systems or industrial embedded systems). Most UDIMM (Unbuffered DIMM) modules are probably non-ECC latches, i.e. those without error correction. They offer high speed, but are also more susceptible to memory errors. There is also DDR3 UDIMM ECC memory. This variant has the additional error correction mechanism to recognise and correct memory errors. These modules are often used in systems that require greater stability but are not compatible with RDIMMs. In general, it can be said that UDIMM memory modules are cheaper and easier to install - however, they do not offer additional stabilisation through register chips, which also limits their scalability.

• DDR3 RDIMM modules
  DDR3 RDIMM modules, which have been specially designed for servers and workstations and offer a high degree of stability and reliability, offer significantly greater scalability. This is ‘DDR3 ECC RAM’ - as the modules are almost exclusively used in professional environments (e.g. enterprise servers, data centres, high-performance workstations), they are almost always equipped with the Error Correction Code. The modules have a register chip for stable memory communication and are compatible with a wide range of Intel XEON and AMD Opteron processors (e.g. Intel XEON E5 series, Intel XEON E7 series). These can be dual-socket or even multi-socket server systems. DDR3 Registered DIMMs are used, for example, in virtualised environments or databases (for smaller companies or for testing purposes). They enable larger memory capacities per server and reduce the electrical load on the memory controller - but also have a higher latency than UDIMMs, as the data must first be processed by the register.

• DDR3 LRDIMM modules
  Maximum memory capacity is achieved with DDR3 Load Reduced DIMMs, a further development of RDIMMs. The load-reduced technology reduces the load on the memory controller and thus achieves an even higher memory density than with the registered modules - but they are somewhat more expensive than the RDIMMs and cannot be combined with them. Ideally, the modules are used in multi-socket servers.

In addition to this ‘type division’, RDIMMs or LRDIMMs, for example, can of course also be separated into performance levels - as well as their capacities. Designations such as ‘PC3-8500’, ‘PC3-10600’, ‘PC3-12800’ or ‘PC3-14900’ indicate the maximum data rate of the modules. For PC3-10600, this would be DDR3-1333 RAM with 10.6 GB/s, for example - which is a good compromise between performance and energy efficiency.

It is also crucial whether you need 4GB DDR3 RAM, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 16GB DDR3 RAM or 32GB DDR3 RAM modules for your system, for example. The choice of the right module depends on the server architecture, compatibility and performance requirements. Higher data rates mean faster memory access - but also higher energy consumption. It is therefore important to know exactly which modules you need and want to use.

You can find even more information on DDR3 modules in our ‘DDR3 RAM portrait’ in our blog.