I'm wondering if there's any kind of external dock available that allows multiple RAM sticks to function as storage. I'm particularly curious because I'm working on a project with Archive Team Warrior, which recommends operating on an SSD. However, I'm concerned about the wear and tear on SSDs, so I'm looking for alternatives. I thought about upgrading my RAM to 64GB and using 32GB as a RAM disk, but the prices are quite high now. My best idea so far is to find a way to use RAM externally through some sort of dock, but I haven't had any luck finding one. I'm considering getting affordable aftermarket DDR3 RAM for this purpose. Does such a dock actually exist?
5 Answers
There used to be something called an external RAM drive, but I’m not sure if they’re made anymore. These were pretty rare after DDR2. Plus, getting enough RAM sticks to create a sizable external storage would be a challenge – you'd need a compatible enclosure that can support multiple sticks. Honestly, it might be more practical to invest in some modern internal RAM for a RAM drive or just go with an SSD for more storage capacity.
I-RAM was a thing before and you can check its info online. It never really gained popularity though, just so you know.
I’m not sure if one exists either, but don’t stress about SSD write limits. They track total writes in terabytes (TBW). For instance, I have a 1TB NVMe drive that handles about 120GB of writes daily, and I still have around 9 years left based on its TBW.
What you’re talking about is typically called a RAM disk. But, I’d say a bunch of SSDs are a lot cheaper than trying to buy a significant amount of DDR5 RAM right now.
SSDs do have write limits, typically rated for hundreds to thousands of times their capacity. Like, my 2TB NVMe is rated for around 1,200TBW – that’s a lot! You shouldn't have to worry too much with a good quality SSD.
Yeah, it was pretty niche! Not surprising it didn’t become mainstream.