Haven’t seen this mentioned yet: the RAM they are making for these AI chips are built to burn up after 6 years. The RAM is built into the processing units to reduce latency but the whole unit is designed with short planned obsolescence so burning out after 5-6 years is expected. The assumption is that by the time they burn up they you will replace them with a more energy efficient unit.
It’s an accounting thing. They can deduct the value of the hardware over its expected usable lifespan. So they have to replace it after 4-6 years even if it’s still working fine. Sometimes they sell it used, and you can buy it pretty cheap, but dollar for dollar, consumer grade stuff that’s current will usually consume less power and game better than a 6 year old server. Now if you need a home NAS or VM host…
It could be different but that is what the companies are stating as their operational life span when they report their financials. They used to say they would only last 4 years…
Haven’t seen this mentioned yet: the RAM they are making for these AI chips are built to burn up after 6 years. The RAM is built into the processing units to reduce latency but the whole unit is designed with short planned obsolescence so burning out after 5-6 years is expected. The assumption is that by the time they burn up they you will replace them with a more energy efficient unit.
How do you know it’s going to burn out in 6 years?
It’s an accounting thing. They can deduct the value of the hardware over its expected usable lifespan. So they have to replace it after 4-6 years even if it’s still working fine. Sometimes they sell it used, and you can buy it pretty cheap, but dollar for dollar, consumer grade stuff that’s current will usually consume less power and game better than a 6 year old server. Now if you need a home NAS or VM host…
Trump also changed the depreciation law as part of the BBB, so I think companies pay less tax by buying this year. https://www.bdo.com/insights/tax/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-expands-100-depreciation-expensing-opportunities
It could be different but that is what the companies are stating as their operational life span when they report their financials. They used to say they would only last 4 years…