I'm planning a new photogrammetry workstation, so I'm prioritizing a strong CPU and plenty of memory. Ideally, I'd like to reach 128GB of RAM, but current pricing appears to be approaching CAD$3,000 for some kits. With data-center demand continuing to consume so much memory supply, I'm wondering whether these prices are likely to improve soon or if I should simply budget for them.
Would it make more sense to choose a motherboard with four or more memory slots and combine several smaller modules? Are there reliability or performance drawbacks to using more than two DIMMs per memory channel? I'm also open to used hardware, older DDR4 platforms, or even a retired server if those would provide better value.
The workload often involves transferring around 100GB from an SD card, so a fast built-in card reader or suitable expansion option would also be useful. Would 64GB be enough to start with, and are there any practical ways to get 64–128GB without overspending?
4 Answers
If you need 128GB immediately, the realistic choices are paying current prices, looking for a reputable used kit, or waiting and accepting that prices could stay high or rise further. There isn’t really a consumer workaround for a supply shortage driven by large-scale data-center purchasing.
There may not be meaningful deals until memory manufacturers expand production, which can take years rather than months. If the workstation is needed for paid work, buy the capacity that saves you time; otherwise, starting at 64GB and upgrading later may be the least painful compromise. For the SD-card workflow, a separate high-speed USB or PCIe card reader may be more flexible than choosing an entire motherboard around a built-in reader.
Used DDR4 is probably the best way to reduce the cost. A retired workstation or server platform could also offer a lot of memory for less, although you’ll need to account for its CPU, motherboard, power requirements, noise, and compatibility with the rest of the build. I’d also test whether 64GB is enough before committing to 128GB.
Be careful about filling every memory slot. Most mainstream desktop processors have two memory channels, and running more than two DIMMs per channel can make high capacities harder to stabilize, sometimes requiring lower speeds or manual tuning. A matched 2×64GB kit is generally simpler than combining several small modules, assuming the motherboard and CPU officially support it.
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