Every stick of RAM carries the information you need, usually printed on a small label on the module itself. If the PC still powers on, your operating system can tell you too. Below are the three things that decide what your memory is worth.
1. The generation: DDR3, DDR4 or DDR5
This is the single biggest factor in value. Newer generations are worth more. There are three quick ways to tell them apart:
- Read the label. Most modules print it directly, e.g. DDR4, PC4-25600 or DDR5-4800. A "PC3" code means DDR3, "PC4" means DDR4, "PC5" means DDR5.
- Check in software (Windows). Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Performance → Memory. Windows 11 shows the DDR generation and speed.
- Look at the notch. The little gap along the gold contacts sits in a different position on each generation, so a DDR4 stick physically won't fit a DDR5 slot.
Tip: the "PCx" number (like PC4-25600) also hides the speed — the digits after the dash relate to the data rate. You don't need to decode it; just send us the whole code and we'll do the rest.
2. The capacity: how many GB per stick
Capacity is almost always printed on the label — 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or 128GB. If you only see a total (say 32GB) and there are two sticks, it's usually 2 × 16GB. Higher-capacity modules are worth noticeably more per stick.
3. The type: desktop, laptop or server
The physical format tells you which machine it came from, and each is priced differently:
| Type | Format | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | DIMM | Long full-size stick (~13 cm), from a tower/desktop PC |
| Laptop | SO-DIMM | Short stick (~7 cm), from a laptop or mini-PC |
| Server | RDIMM / LRDIMM | Full-size, often has an extra chip; label may say REG, ECC, RDIMM or LRDIMM |
Server memory (registered / ECC) is typically the most valuable, especially in DDR4 and DDR5.
What to note down before selling
- Generation — DDR3 / DDR4 / DDR5
- Capacity per stick — and how many sticks
- Type — desktop, laptop or server
- The full label code (e.g. DDR4-3200 32GB RDIMM) if you can read it
With those four details you can drop the quantities straight into our instant offer calculator and see an indicative value. Not sure on something? Send us a photo of the label on WhatsApp and we'll identify it for you.
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