How a modder built a 32GB DDR5 desktop DIMM from laptop memory

An enthusiast managed to save roughly $130 by assembling a full-fledged 32GB DDR5 desktop module from memory salvaged out of laptop sticks. The modder known as VIK-on didn’t just revisit a concept that had been floated before—he brought it to life: the DIY RAM boots reliably at 6400 MT/s and is correctly recognized by the system thanks to XMP support.

As donor parts, he used two 16 GB SK Hynix DDR5 laptop modules that were markedly cheaper than their desktop counterparts. The memory chips were carefully transplanted onto a new desktop PCB ordered from China, and cooling was handled by a basic heatsink from AliExpress. It sounds straightforward, but working with BGA packages and resoldering demands professional tools and serious hands-on experience.

Once the hardware was in place, the module was flashed with custom firmware borrowed from an Adata retail kit. That enabled a 6400 MT/s XMP profile, which the motherboard detects in BIOS without any fuss. The end result is a proper DIMM that, at a glance, looks almost indistinguishable from a factory-made unit—proof that careful engineering can punch above its weight.

The total cost came to about $218, while comparable 32 GB DDR5 modules at retail run noticeably higher, especially in Russia. The modder added that the price could drop further by using cheaper, lower-capacity laptop sticks. The experiment neatly illustrates how high prices and tight supply push enthusiasts toward unconventional, technically elegant solutions.