'Near zero-cost memory expansion through recycling': Meta will reuse terabytes worth of DDR4 memory using CXL tech and avoid paying the RAM tax

Mushkin Blackline DDR4-2400 16GB.

• Meta recycled retired DDR4 memory instead of purchasing expensive new DRAM
• CXL technology turned discarded server memory into useful computing capacity
• Meta reported 25% fewer servers for machine learning inference workloads

Memory shortages, rising DRAM prices, and extended delivery schedules have pushed hyperscalers toward alternatives that seemed impractical only recently, but Meta has developed a way to reuse old DDR4 memory pulled from decommissioned servers rather than discarding it.