DDR3 memory makes a comeback as users seek affordable RAM options

Amid a severe shortage of RAM and rapidly rising prices, the market has unexpectedly turned its attention to technologies nearly two decades old. In 2026, platforms supporting DDR3 are experiencing a notable resurgence, particularly in China, where users are seeking ways to get large amounts of memory at reasonable prices. According to Chinese industry sources, more buyers are turning to the older HEDT platform Intel X99, originally designed for DDR4 but adapted for cheaper DDR3 memory.

Former Intel Xeon server processors with quad-channel memory support play a key role in this trend. Chinese motherboard manufacturers have learned to run both standard DDR3 and ECC DDR3 on the X99 chipset, enabling the use of older, affordable modules. As a result, users can get up to 128 GB of memory in quad-channel mode at a price significantly lower than modern solutions. Moreover, dual-processor X99 motherboards with LGA 2011-V3 sockets have already appeared on the market, capable of handling up to 256 GB of DDR3 thanks to eight channels.

Sales of DDR3 motherboards are growing especially fast. Local brands report that shipments of such boards are increasing by two to three times or more, driven by demand for budget builds. Kits with DDR3 motherboards and Intel 6th to 9th generation processors are selling well, allowing for relatively inexpensive systems with ample memory reserves.

This is not the only attempt by users to bypass the shortage. Against the backdrop of rising desktop memory prices, many gamers have started using laptop SODIMM modules with special adapters. These modules have been rising in price more slowly than classic DIMMs, though such solutions cannot be called optimal in terms of performance and stability. Nevertheless, the current situation shows that in a memory crisis, users are willing to sacrifice technological novelty for affordability and capacity.