Technology analyst TrendForce sees DDR4 memory being stripped from old server memory sticks on a massive scale, chips being resoldered, and sold as new DDR4 memory sticks for consumer PCs.

The basic ploy here is simple. If you can buy an old server DDR4 stick, remove the chip, and reflash it for use as vanilla DDR4 memory, and do it cheaper than buying a new DDR4 memory chip, this is a great success.

Someone must have figured out how to automate the process of stripping and re-soldering the chips. Be that as it may, According to TrendForce, used chips reach speeds of up to 3200 MT/s, so faster DDR4 DIMMs are safe. Of course, this does not apply to DDR5 RAM for the latest Intel and AMD platforms.

It is not at all clear how to identify these used chips in memory DIMMs that operate at 3200 MT/s or less; TrendForce avoids specifically identifying the original manufacturer of the used chips, but it does cite "two major Korean suppliers s legacy processes," and Tom's Hardware speculates that it strongly implies Samsung and SK hynix.

And then there is the question of whether it actually matters. [If the DDR4 kit comes from a reputable brand and is covered by a warranty, then it may not matter so much whether the memory chips themselves are brand new.

From a sustainability standpoint, the idea that hardware can be reused in this way rather than being landfilled outright is appealing. But again, it would all make more sense if the fact that the memory chips were used was clearly stated.

Furthermore, some observers believe that there may be some confusion between chips reclaimed from used server DIMMs and unused but old surplus inventory on the market.

The bottom line is that we don't know how to identify DIMMs with used chips, whether it matters from a performance or reliability standpoint, and we are not entirely certain that this is definitely happening. If this is not very helpful, my apologies.