German PC builder figures out shipping DDR5 RAM from China is actually cheaper than buying it in Europe
Table of Contents
The ongoing memory crisis has pushed DDR5 RAM prices much higher than many PC builders expected. Limited supply and rising demand have made high-capacity kits especially expensive, with prices continuing to climb in many regions. However, one lucky PC builder has shared an interesting workaround, claiming that importing DDR5 RAM directly from China ended up being far cheaper than buying locally.
The story was shared by a user on Reddit on the German r/PCBaumeister subreddit. He explains that instead of paying local retail prices, the user decided to take a risk and order memory from AliExpress. According to the post, the user spent €247 on the Lexar Thor 32GB DDR5 RAM kit and placed the order on February 1, 2026, after carefully checking seller reviews and product details.
32GB DDR5 RAM imported from China
At first, the user assumed the package might never arrive. However, after a few days, it did, though they had to pay an additonal €54 in customs charges. Even with that added cost, the total price was still far lower than buying the same type of DDR5 RAM from a local retailer in Germany.
Latest tech deals.
- AMD Ryzenâ„¢ 9 9900X 12-Core - was $499 now $328
- CORSAIR 4000D PC Case - was $124.99 now $75.99
- Hisense 65" Class E6SR - was $549 now $377.99
- Apple 2026 MacBook Air - was $1,999 now $1,799
- Skytech Gaming PC Desktop (9850X3d) - was $4,299 now $3,799
- Apple Magic Mouse - was $79 now $59
- MSI Prestige 16 Flip - was $2,149 now $1,899
- Kotin 9700X Gaming PC - was $2,399 now $2,199
Prices correct as of October 9th, 2026.
Once installed, the results were surprisingly positive. The user reported that the RAM worked without any issues and that enabling EXPO in the BIOS was successful right away. The memory ran at 6000 MT/s with C36 timings, which is exactly what was advertised. They are yet to (publicly) share a link in the thread, though a bunch of people have been asking.
Manual overclocking was not tested yet, but the user noted that it was not a priority. They also mentioned that the RAM felt premium in build quality and appearance, even describing it as the best-looking and highest-quality memory they had personally handled. In short, there were no issues with the kit.
However, what’s interesting is that the user checked the same store listing again, only to find that the price had jumped significantly. The same RAM kit was now listed for over €500, showing just how quickly prices are changing during the memory shortage.
About the Author