What to do with old memory modules
You've just upgraded the memory in your computer and are now getting faster, more seamless performance. Now, the question is, what do you do with your old modules? Here are some of our favorite things to do with old memory.
- Sell it. One of the best ways to get more value out of your old memory is to list it online or through a local consignment computer shop. The memory market is big, and there's a good chance you'll be able to resell it.
- Recycle it. You can also recycle your old memory. Since memory modules contain precious metals and other elements that must be disposed of in regulated ways, recycling is a good way to help the environment and often you'll get paid for recycling your memory – a true win-win.
- Donate it. Many charities, schools, and community organizations have to make do with outdated computers. A simple memory upgrade can go a long ways and help them increase the performance of systems that are often much slower than they'd like. Contact the organizations you're interested in helping and see if they can make use of your memory.
- Give it to friends or family. You can also give your old memory to friends and family members who have similar systems. When giving memory to someone, you'll want to make sure their motherboard uses the same level of memory technology as yours (DDR2, DDR3, etc.), otherwise they won't be able to use the modules. To see which type of memory is compatible with their system, have them run our System Scanner, which will identify the type of memory they can use in 60 seconds or less. If it matches what you were using, they may be able to install it.
- Reuse it. A fun way to get a performance boost out of old memory is to use it as part of a RAM drive (also called a RAM disk). A RAM drive is simply a block of memory that your computer's software treats as if it were a storage drive. RAM drives can achieve extremely fast speeds and are a fun way to experiment while also getting a high level of performance out of your old modules.
No matter how you choose to use your old memory, there are a number of ways to put it to use. Increase the value of your new Crucial memory upgrade by doing more — and doing good — with your old modules.
