In this article, we are going to discuss the life span of a ram module. And there are two possible ways to find out how long a ram module lasts before you it needs to be replaced or thrown away.
The first way is by having a look at the physical condition of a ram stick. For example, if a ram module is physically worn out or broken, soon it would be of no use.
Another way is the check the performance of the ram in comparison with newly arriving technology in the market. Let us take the example of SD ram modules that are no longer and are replaced by faster DDR ram modules.
1) How Long Does a Ram Lasts Physically?
If we talk about the life span of a ram module physically, then there isn’t a specified time for that. Almost every ram stick is made up of non-fragile components that do not break easily. Whereas some of the components in your PC like PSU, CPU, and even GPU might die first.
A ram stick would take at least 10 years before facing any malfunction or degradation. I still have older SD ram modules with me and they look in good shape and health after 13 years.
2) Performance Life of a Ram Module
The longevity of your ram depends upon the way you use your ram. If you are a hardcore gamer, then obviously your ram will be under load most of the time. And this will shorten the life span of your ram in terms of performance.
Also, if your ram is about to die, you will see physical memory crash errors (BSOD) on your computer screen. BSOD errors can arise due to many factors, one of which can be a faulty ram module. This happened to me a few years ago, at last, I had to buy a new ram stick to overcome this problem. By the way, you can check the health of your ram by installing Mem86. This tool gives you a detailed insight into the current health of your ram.
With the arrival of new technology, the older technology has to make way for it. The same is the case with ram modules. As the newly arriving tech demands for the latest-gen ram modules, you have to throw away your older ram modules.
Signs of a Failing Ram Module
Here are some of the most common symptoms:
- BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)
- Frequent System Reboot
- Computer crashing during heavy tasks like gaming or multitasking
- Frequent beeps on startup
So How We Can Measure the Lifetime of a Ram?
The answer is simple, if you have recently bought a new gaming PC equipped with DDR4 ram, chances are that you don’t need to replace those ram sticks for the next 10 years. The only thing that you will need is more ram amount. Modern games and applications are becoming memory-intensive each year, so this would be something that you really need to take care of.
So make sure you make your PC future-proof by installing ram more memory and clock speed.
The Final Lines
There is no need to worry about your ram being degraded or worn out over time. Even if you are editing videos at 4K, you will need more amount of ram, but most work would be done by your CPU at this point. Still, your ram would be on the safe side and it won’t affect the performance of your ram at all.
Ram is the cheapest part to get when it comes to enhancing the performance of your PC. Also, it is the most durable hardware that does not wear out even if you use it for years.
It is very rare for a ram to fail unless you push it over the recommended voltage range. And that will occur only if you are overclocking your ram. Overclocking your ram will result in more heat, and this might blow up any integrated circuit on your ram stick. Moreover, this will also void the warranty and shorten the lifespan of your ram.
