When it comes to PCs, it’s important to know a thing or two about the hardware inside of them. Along with the CPU and GPU, RAM is one of the essential hardware components of any desktop PC or notebook. But how long do the memory modules (aka DIMMs) and memory components (ICs) actually last in practice? Read on to learn more.
Not sure what kind of RAM your PC has? Check out PCWorld’s guide on how to find out.
How long is the service life of RAM?The service life of RAM depends on various factors and cannot be precisely quantified. However, modern memory modules are generally durable and should function reliably for many years.
Durability can be influenced by several factors:
In practice, memory modules can generally function for many years, in exceptional cases even for decades, without any impairment. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to carry out regular backups and look out for possible signs of hardware problems and defects. However, there are also tangible specifications that provide an indication of the lifespan of RAM.
Read and write cycles and MTBFThe number of read and write cycles that modern RAM modules can achieve depends on the type of memory used. For traditional DDR4 or DDR5 memory, the typical specifications for read and write accesses range from several tens of thousands to several hundred thousand cycles per cell.
The exact number varies depending on the manufacturer, model, and quality of the components. Depending on the manufacturer, the service life of memory is also specified in the form of MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures).
The MTBF is the average operating time between failures for repairable units and is usually between 100,000 and 200,000 operating hours for RAM, which in practice corresponds to around 11 to 22 years of intensive use.
Private users who use their RAM properly and pay particular attention to the prescribed supply voltage (“VDIMM”) and the maximum permissible memory clock should never be confronted with a defective memory module.
Recommendations for a long RAM lifeTo ensure a particularly long product life for the RAM, users should observe the following points:
Home users generally fare very well with memory modules from Corsair, Crucial, G.Skill, Kingston, TeamGroup, and ADATA. They shouldn’t expect any nasty surprises in terms of service life.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Computer Components, Desktop PCs, Laptops