Share surprising or amazing facts that you know

Off-topic Chatter
1

This is one that I came across and didn’t believe at first but now sounds true.

Building a large AI data center will use 50,000 tons (100 million pounds) of copper.

from: AI Data Centers Could Consume Half a Million Tons of Copper Annually by 2030 - USFunds

“A conventional data center uses between 5,000 and 15,000 tons of copper. A hyperscale data center, on the other hand—the kind being built to run artificial intelligence (AI)—can require up to 50,000 tons of copper per facility, according to the Copper Development Association.”

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2

Indeed interesting fact. How does it refer to the ramaining resources on earth?

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3

Don’t know about worldwide but it did say the US has enough supply to meet the demand.

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4

I think these AI data centers are also driving up the prices of some PC components, especially DDR5 RAM.
It’s currently a bad time to be building a new gaming PC, but I don’t know when it’ll be a good time again. :money_with_wings:

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5

Yeah, RAM is like 6x the price now
So much for my plan to upgrade my RAM, adding 32GB would cost more than half the entire cost of my computer. :face_with_symbols_on_mouth:

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6

Not sure about the 6X, but I bought a 64 gig kit of Micron DDR5 6000 in August 2025 for about $152.
The same kit, when I looked today was about (EDIT) $533.
:face_with_open_eyes_and_hand_over_mouth:

Not 6X but close enough to keep me from adding another 64 gig to the system, for sure! Is that due to AI build outs, raw material costs, tariffs? I am not sure but it sucks.

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7

I paid about $100 for 32GB two years ago, the same RAM is now about $600. Might be different in Canada?

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8

I edited my post to show the price today… When I bought the kit it was on sale and about the cheapest 64 gig kit DDR 6000 I could find.

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9

No worries, it just keeps getting worse.
Mine was not the cheapest but was not the high end either.
I can manage on the 32GB i have but do wish i had upgraded it 6 months ago so i would be set long term. Alas my time machine is on the fritz.

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10

Back on point (kids, don’t try this at home):
“It’s crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide.”

True fact.
Not to be confused with the much more common, untrue fact :face_without_mouth:.

slmjim