Is Backordering Out-of-Stock RAM and an SSD a Bad Idea?
Asked by
MellowCedar7
I'm putting together a budget PC in Canada, but the least expensive RAM and SSD options I found are currently out of stock. Would placing a backorder be reasonable if I'm willing to wait, or could I end up waiting indefinitely—or receiving the parts only after the price has changed? I'm considering two separately sold Patriot Viper Elite 8GB DDR4-2666 CL16 sticks at about CAD $50 each from ShopRBC, along with an ADATA LEGEND 700 512GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD listed around CAD $56 from PC Canada. Nothing has been purchased yet, so I'm open to changing the plan.
Answers
Check the used market for RAM, especially from a local seller where you can test it before paying. For the SSD, be more cautious: verify its health, remaining endurance, and return policy if buying used. A slightly more expensive drive from a reputable seller may be worth it for reliability.
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Those prices may be too good to rely on if the listings are old or the products are no longer being replenished. A backorder can sit for an unknown amount of time, get canceled, or be fulfilled after the price changes. I’d compare currently available alternatives instead of assuming these exact parts will eventually arrive at the listed prices.
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I wouldn’t build around a backorder unless the store gives a realistic restock date and clearly guarantees the price. The bigger issue with the RAM is that you should plan to buy both sticks together and run them in dual-channel mode. Buying one now and waiting on the second could hurt performance, especially if the system has to run single-channel memory.
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MellowCedar7: That makes sense. I haven’t bought anything yet—I was only planning around these parts, so I can look for two sticks that are actually available.