Why the hell is 4gb DDR2 so expensive?

[da na]

Trying to upgrade an old ThinkPad that currently has 2x2gb of 667mHz ddr2, but all of the 2x4gb kits are like >$100 usd... Why? You can get full size 4gb ddr2 for like $30 a stick! (the ThinkPad uses the standard laptop PC2)

[TVwazhere]

If you're trying to buy "new" it's because it's "low stock" which artificially inflates the price. 

 

Look for them used instead on sites like Ebay, Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. Additionally, sites like FreeGeek in Vancouver that recycle a lot of old hardware might have stuff. 

[flibberdipper]

Not many mobile devices came with 4GB sticks, from the factory or otherwise, so naturally the prices will still be inflated since there's less of it.

[Tan3l6]

I might be wrong, but maybe it's so rare because of the 32-bit Windows era, as that  OS did not really want to accept RAM capacity over 3,5GB, so there was no real demand present when the DDR2 SO-DIMM were manufactured.

[jaslion]

9 minutes ago, wat3rmelon_man2 said:

Trying to upgrade an old ThinkPad that currently has 2x2gb of 667mHz ddr2, but all of the 2x4gb kits are like >$100 usd... Why? You can get full size 4gb ddr2 for like $30 a stick! (the ThinkPad uses the standard laptop PC2)

4gb ddr2 sticks were rare and hard to make so yeah pretty normal. Make sure your laptop even supports 8gb of ram too.

[da na]

Just now, jaslion said:

4gb ddr2 sticks were rare and hard to make so yeah pretty normal. Make sure your laptop even supports 8gb of ram too.

it does support 8gb

[da na]

yes I was talking about laptop ram, which the LAPTOP ram is muuuuch more expensive than full size desktop 4gb, even used

[jaslion]

Just now, wat3rmelon_man2 said:

it does support 8gb

The money you'll likely spend on the ram could buy you a more recent better laptop often :p. First or second gen i3 and even sometimes i5 laptops can be had for that money.