SA DDR3 memory pricing roundup

In this article we have a look at the average prices for memory modules across a range of online retailers operating in South Africa.

In the last two months, prices for the chips used in DDR3 memory technologies have increased, in some cases doubling the retail prices of products sold. DDR3 memory is used not only for desktop memory, but also serves as the basis of GDDR3 and GDDR5, specially designed for use in graphics cards.

In the past, digging into your wallet for a 8GB dual-channel memory kit would have set you back roughly R450. Today, its well in excess of R600 and the price continues to climb as chip manufacturers raise their prices to cover costs. With this in mind and cash in hand, where’s the best and cheapest place to buy memory these days?

The table below shows the various memory modules available from local retailers. The lowest prices are highlighted in Bold. If a module is listed as “Sold Out” or is out of stock, that price does not make it into the table. IHS = integrated heatsink; like the Corsair Vengeance modules with fins on the top.

Memory module	Rebeltech	Wootware	Ikonix	Titan-Ice	Takealot
Transcend 2GB DDR3-1600 CL9	189		199
Kingston Hyper-X Red 2GB DDR3-1333	242		240.77		259
Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3-1600	419	413	387.49	449	418
Corsair Vengeance 4GB DDR3-1600 IHS	448	429	345	449	431
Transcend, Apacer & ADATA 8GB DDR3	484	632	497		773
Corsair Vengeance 4GB DDR3-1600 CL7	554		541.73	590
Kingston Hyper-X Blu 4GB DDR3-1866	524		500.35
ADATA AX Gaming 2x4GB DDR3-2000	691	639
Corsair Vengeance 2x2GB DDR3-2000	727		810.88
Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600	893		850.21	899	869

Buying memory these days is fraught with delays, price increases and not enough shops having stock of what you want or the price you want it at. Across the board, when it comes to specific memory kits, Wootware and Ikonik stock the most, or have the most access to inventory from their suppliers. Every single entry here was for RAM that was in stock – a drop in the pond, really, among the numbers of entries across many sites that have entries marked “Not in stock.”

There are, however, a few good moments. Prices for Corsair’s XMS3 memory with the smaller heatsink is just a few twenties away from the Vengeance family with the same memory chips, sporting the cool fins on the top. With the 4GB Vengeance modules Takealot also seems to be working on as really wacky price, charging R733 for the single module.

ADATA AX Gaming Memory

The other highlight is the slow availability of ADATA’s gaming memory in the country. The AX Gaming modules are sold in a 8GB kit and run at DDR3-2000. That might not sound like a huge jump but this massively benefits AMD APU owners and those of you on Intel’s Z77 and X79 boards. Wootware’s price of R639 means that a 16GB kit would tally up to R1278, which is decent. You’d be spending way more than that if you decided to get two single 8GB modules aimed at gamers. Kitguru gave the kit their “Must Have” award. If you’re keen, I suggest you start opening that piggy bank.

In addition, the biggest highlight is that there are some brands that have very cheap memory available. You can find 8GB DDR3-1333 modules with CL10 latencies and requiring 1.5 to 1.65v from Corsair, Apacer and ADATA and they’re available from four out of our five retailers. If you’re comfortable with the lack of any overclocking for the memory, you can buy two of these kits and land up just R100 or so out of pocket and with double the available memory compared to the overpriced single-module Vengeance kit.

If you’re looking to buy memory, don’t hesitate. The prices keep on going up little by little and there’s no word about when it’s going to stop and come down. For now, grab the best value module or kit you can find.