A Costly RAM RMA Mix Up
Every PC builder knows that returning faulty hardware can be a bit stressful. You pack up an expensive component, send it off, and hope it comes back fixed or replaced quickly. For one user on the r/pcmasterrace subreddit, that process took a very unexpected turn.
This PC enthusiast had sent in part of a high capacity 96 GB kit of Corsair Vengeance DDR5 memory for an RMA. This type of DDR5 RAM is not cheap and their kit was worth at least 1000 dollars. When the replacement arrived, instead of working performance memory, they opened the box to find something completely different: non functional dummy RAM sticks.
Dummy RAM modules are meant for looks only. They are decorative sticks designed to fill empty memory slots and give a system a full RGB or aesthetic appearance. They cost a fraction of real DDR5 memory in this case around 35 dollars compared to the original kit value. They cannot actually be used to run games or applications.
Real RAM Versus Dummy Sticks
For PC gamers and builders, it is important to understand the difference between real RAM and dummy modules. Real DDR5 memory like Corsair Vengeance is a key performance component. It affects how many applications you can run, how smooth modern games feel, and how responsive your system is when multitasking. High capacity kits like 96 GB are often used by power users for heavy gaming, streaming, content creation, and virtual machines.
Dummy RAM exists only for visuals. Some people want every memory slot filled for a cleaner or more aggressive look inside a tempered glass case. These dummy sticks usually have RGB lighting or branding that matches real modules but they do not contain the necessary memory chips or circuitry to function as system memory.
In this case the mistake is not just a small shipping error. It is a massive value mismatch for the customer. They sent in an expensive working component for support and received a decorative part that delivers zero performance and is worth around thirty five dollars instead of the original value of about one thousand dollars.
Situations like this highlight why it is so important for both customers and companies to carefully track RMAs. When you send in costly PC hardware such as GPUs CPUs or high end DDR5 kits you should always:
- Document serial numbers and take clear photos of the parts before shipping.
- Keep proof of purchase and any email or ticket records from the RMA process.
- Inspect return packages immediately and compare what you received with what you originally sent.
If something looks wrong you have evidence to show support and get the issue corrected faster.
What This Means For PC Builders
While this story is unusual it is a useful reminder for anyone building or upgrading a gaming PC. Modern DDR5 memory especially large capacity kits can be extremely expensive. A 96 GB kit of Corsair Vengeance is far from entry level and losing even one stick in an RMA mix up is a serious hit to both your wallet and your system performance.
For gamers 32 GB is often plenty but content creators and heavy multitaskers are increasingly pushing to 64 GB or more. As capacity climbs so does the risk when something goes wrong in shipping or in a return process. Always treat these components like the valuable hardware they are and pack them securely with anti static materials when sending them back for warranty service.
This incident also shows that dummy hardware has become common enough that it can even enter support workflows by accident. With the rise of RGB focused builds and aesthetic parts companies now sell everything from fake RAM to decorative GPU support brackets. These products look like real hardware but provide no performance benefit.
When you are buying memory make sure you double check the product description to confirm it is actual DDR4 or DDR5 RAM and not a cosmetic kit. If the price seems too low for a high capacity kit there is a good chance it is decorative only.
As for the unlucky user on r/pcmasterrace the hope is that Corsair or the retailer will review the situation and send out the correct working DDR5 replacement. For the rest of the PC community it serves as a cautionary tale about RMA processes and the surprising ways things can go wrong when expensive gaming hardware and similar looking decorative parts cross paths.
Original article and image: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ddr5/corsair-ships-customer-usd35-decorative-memory-sticks-instead-of-usd1-000-worth-of-96-gb-of-ddr5-memory-buyer-accidentally-receives-dummy-ram-in-unlucky-warranty-claim
