Memory prices continue going up, and to make matters worse, fake DDR5 memory modules are now flooding the PC segment.
Beware, Your Expensive DDR5 Memory Might Be Fake, PC Buyers Advised To Double-Check Their RAM
Asian markets are now seeing fake DDR5 memory at several retailers, both online and in shops. These DDR5 memory modules might look real to an average buyer, but on closer inspection, they're equipped with fake DRAM modules and sometimes even worse.
So there are several cases of fake DDR5 DRAM modules circulating in Asian markets. Some of these RAM sticks feature fake DRAM modules, which are made out of plastic, and some even feature misplaced or mismatched power circuitry.
A Japanese user at X reports of one such case where a 16 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM module, made by Samsung, turned out to be completely fake. We can see that the module doesn't look right at first glance. The gold fingers look different, and the edges are rounded off. Furthermore, the modules on the memory are from SK Hynix, whereas the label reads Samsung.
This type of memory is easy to spot for those who have been building or buying PC components, but for an average Joe, they really can't differentiate between what's real and what's fake. This makes things far worse for desktop memory, which usually comes with a heatspreader over the DRAM modules, so you'll never be able to tell whether the module is fake or real unless you take it apart or try to boot it on your PC, only to get no signal.
These fake 16 GB SO-DIMM DDR5 memory modules are being sold at various online channels, including Yahoo Japan, where they are listed for 12,845 Yen or roughly $85 US. The listing says that it is a junk item, and functionality is unconfirmed. The seller clearly states that he won't accept returns.
We have already seen fake GPUs and CPUs being sold online. Prices are high for every single component that goes into DIY and OEM PCs. Scalpers are already taking advantage of the situation by hoarding these components and selling them at even higher rates.
Then there are the obvious scammers who are buying several dismantled PCBs from Asian markets and selling them off as fully working graphics cards. The GPU and the rest of the components are sold off to AI firms who repurpose them in dual-slot server designs. We also saw fake Ryzen CPUs being sold, and with memory being the new component that is affected by these scam tactics, we advise PC buyers to take extra caution when buying hardware components, and always double-check the seller's credibility, previous listings, reviews, etc, to avoid being scammed.
About the author: A Software Engineer by training and a PC enthusiast by passion, Hassan Mujtaba serves as Wccftech's Senior Editor for hardware section. With years of experience in the industry, he specializes in deep-dive technical analysis of next-generation CPU and GPU architectures, motherboards, and cooling solutions. His work involves not only breaking news on upcoming technologies but also extensive hands-on reviews and benchmarking.
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