| Machine | Current RAM | Slot status | Form factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex (Minisforum EliteMini) | 1×16 GB A-DATA DDR5-5600 | DIMM 0 used, DIMM 1 empty — single-channel (perf hit) | SODIMM DDR5 |
| G16 (Dell G16 7630) | 2×16 GB Samsung DDR5-5600 | Both slots full. Running at 4800 MHz despite 5600 rated — downclocked | SODIMM DDR5 |
Compatibility: identical form factor. But G16 is already full — Apex's 16 GB stick can't go into G16 without removing one of G16's 16 GB sticks (net G16 change = zero).
| Component | Spot price | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crucial CT2K32G56C46S5 64 GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM | $629.99 verified | Best Buy | EOL Feb 2026 inventory — Crucial consumer line discontinued; supply tightening, not loosening |
Kingston FURY Impact 64 GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM (KF556S40IBK2-64) | ~$249 historical low, $1100+ recent third-party volatile | Best Buy / Newegg | Worth comparing nightly — possible cheaper alt vs Crucial in real time, but be wary of third-party-only listings at inflated prices |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB NVMe Gen4 with heatsink | $399.99 verified | Amazon | Recent volatility: April 3 spike to $1,170; back down now — buy on dips |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB without heatsink | ~$300-350 approx | Amazon / Best Buy | For Apex/G16 internal M.2 slots; heatsink unnecessary in mini-PC / laptop chassis |
| Samsung 990 Pro 2TB | $639.99 MSRP verified | Samsung direct | $429.99 Amazon listing exists but OOS — if it comes in stock at that price, snap it up |
| Item | Price | Spend running |
|---|---|---|
| Crucial 64 GB SODIMM kit (2×32 GB) — replaces existing single 16 GB stick | $629.99 | $629.99 |
| WD Black SN850X 2 TB, no heatsink | ~$330 | ~$960 |
| Buffer | ~$40 |
That fits in $1000 with no margin for error. If WD or Crucial price-spikes between now and checkout, you go over — not a comfortable buy.
Flash Apex's BIOS to latest before installing dual 32 GB sticks. Mini-PC vendors often need a BIOS update to POST cleanly at the full memory config. Check Minisforum's support page for EliteMini downloads first.
G16's 2×16 GB is uncomfortable but not breaking the twin. Same SODIMM kit swaps out both existing sticks (the displaced 2×16 GB go to a drawer or eBay).
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Crucial 64 GB SODIMM kit (same as Apex) — replaces both existing 16 GB sticks | $629.99 |
| WD Black SN850X 2 TB no heatsink (if G16 has a free M.2 slot — confirm visually before ordering) | ~$330 |
| Total | ~$960 |
G16 7630 second M.2 slot is usually empty but not always — open the back panel and confirm before ordering the SN850X. Cheap to check.
The single highest-leverage dollar: Apex 64 GB RAM ($629.99). That fixes the active recurring outage (Docker wedges from WSL ceiling), restores dual-channel, and unlocks larger local models. G16 RAM is the next buy when you have another $629 to spend. NVMe upgrades on either machine are comfort — they don't fix a current outage.
Best Buy's sale is already live and runs through Mon 5/25. But: with Crucial EOL'ing and DDR5 in active supply crunch, "Memorial Day deal" pricing on the specific Crucial kit isn't guaranteed — the discount mechanic that produced consumer-RAM sales in normal years doesn't apply when supply itself is shrinking. Don't wait for a drop that may not come. If you see Crucial 64 GB SODIMM at $600 or below, that's the deal.
NVMe (WD/SK Hynix/Samsung) has more historical Memorial Day discount precedent — that one's worth a 24-48 hr watch. Set ntfy on tp3_cursor_report if I'm watching it for you.