What is the difference between white chips, black chips and genuine memory dies, and how much do prices differ?

Genuine dies are fully wafer-tested, binned, package-tested and original-marked by the fab; white chips are dies that failed or skipped wafer testing (priced at roughly 40-60% of genuine); black chips are severely defective parts (priced as reclaim material). Q3 2026 reference: genuine DDR4 8Gb (Samsung K4A8G165WC-BCTD, SK Hynix H5AN8G6NCJR-VKC) CNY 14-24 per die vs CNY 5-10 for white chips; genuine 512Gb TLC NAND (Samsung K9OKGY8S7C, Micron MT29F512G08EBHAFJ) CNY 18-28 per die vs CNY 8-15 for white chips; black chips CNY 1-3.

How can you quickly spot remarked (re-marked) memory dies?

Four steps: check the marking process — genuine laser markings have sharp, uniform edges while re-marked dies show uneven font weight, shifted positioning and dulled/scratch-marked surfaces; verify the lot code — genuine dies carry wafer lot and assembly codes on top, white chips usually have only a model number or blank tops; read the die ID with the controller's mass-production tool and compare against the official ID table; and finally scan bad blocks and capacity. Remarking cannot change the ID or bad-block map, so a test exposes it every time.

Why should memory dies be ID-tested before recycling pricing?

ID testing is the basis for pricing and closing deals: buyers only pay genuine-tier prices for verified parts, and lots shipped with test reports sell faster at higher prices, while unverifiable lots carry a 10-30% risk discount. Test records are also the compliance backstop for export — shipping Samsung/SK Hynix-marked remarked dies carries trademark and fraud risk, and overseas buyers increasingly demand ID test reports.

Memory Chip Recycling: How to Identify White Chips, Black Chips & Remarked Dies — Genuine vs Downgraded NAND/DRAM Pricing Guide

Of All the "Samsung Dies" You Buy, How Many Are Really Samsung?

Every recycler knows the experience: a batch of claimed Samsung K9OKGY8S7C 512Gb TLC dies, crisp markings, pristine appearance — quoted 20% below market. Then the ID test fails to read, or the bad-block rate is absurd. In low-price die channels, white chips, black chips and remarked dies can account for as much as 30% of what circulates. White chips are dies that failed or skipped wafer testing; black chips are severely defective parts; remarked dies are old parts ground down and re-marked to pass as genuine. The spread between these and genuine dies runs from 50% to several multiples — and if you cannot tell them apart, you pay genuine prices for white chips and white-chip prices for black chips, losing the spread twice on the same lot.

What a "Genuine" Label Really Covers: Three Price Tiers

Genuine dies go through wafer testing, binning, package-level final test and original fab marking — the cost is in the process. White chips skip testing and warranty, so they price at 40-60% of genuine. Black chips cannot guarantee yield at all and only move as reclaim material. Remarked dies are the dangerous ones — the old marking is ground off and a laser marker re-stamps a best-selling model number; the fraud cost per die is under CNY 0.1, while passing them off as genuine multiplies profit several times over. In Q3 2026, genuine DDR4 8Gb (Samsung K4A8G165WC-BCTD, SK Hynix H5AN8G6NCJR-VKC) recycles at CNY 14-24 per die versus CNY 5-10 for white chips; genuine 512Gb TLC NAND (Samsung K9OKGY8S7C, Micron MT29F512G08EBHAFJ) runs CNY 18-28 versus CNY 8-15 for white chips — the tier gap is both the margin and the trap.

Memory Die Recycling Price Reference (Q3 2026)

Current reference prices for memory dies graded in three tiers — genuine / white chip / black chip (Reference Price (CNY), Q3 2026):

Tier	Representative models	Reference Price (CNY)
DDR4 8Gb genuine	Samsung K4A8G165WC-BCTD, SK Hynix H5AN8G6NCJR-VKC, Micron MT40A512M16	14-24/die
DDR4 8Gb white chip	Same (skipped testing / unmarked)	5-10/die
DDR4 16Gb genuine	Samsung K4AAG165WA-BCTD, SK Hynix H5ANAG6NCMR-VKC	28-45/die
DDR4 16Gb white chip	Same	10-18/die
NAND 256Gb TLC genuine	Samsung K9OKG8U0E, SK Hynix H27QDG8M2M	10-16/die
NAND 512Gb TLC genuine	Samsung K9OKGY8S7C, Micron MT29F512G08EBHAFJ, Kioxia TC58TFG8DBLTAAG	18-28/die
NAND 512Gb TLC white chip	Same	8-15/die
Black chip / severely defective	All brands	1-3/die
Remarked die (after identification)	Priced at white-chip tier or rejected	—

Note: These are Q3 2026 reference ranges and move with NAND/DRAM spot prices. Traceable, ID-verified parts command top value; unverifiable channel material carries a typical 10-30% risk discount.

Four Moves to Spot a Fake in Seconds

Inspect the marking: genuine fab laser markings are sharp-edged and uniform; re-marked dies show uneven font weight, shifted placement and dulled or micro-scratched surfaces from grinding
Check the lot code: genuine dies carry wafer lot and assembly codes on top; white chips usually show only a model or blank tops, and black chips often carry dark dots, blocks or ink marks
Read the ID: use the controller's mass-production tool to read the die ID and compare it against the official ID table — remarking cannot change the ID or bad-block map, so one test settles it
Verify bad blocks & capacity: full-surface bad-block scan — white/black chips show significantly higher rates than genuine; a part marked 512Gb that scans under 400Gb is priced at the white-chip tier

Sending an ID test report with the lot is the single most effective way to close faster and command a premium in mainstream trade — buyers only pay genuine-tier prices for material that is proven genuine.

Authenticated Grading Is the Recycler's Moat

The value of a professional recycler is not "dare to buy unverified material" — it is sorting mixed genuine, white, black and remarked dies into their correct tiers: genuine into high-price channels, white chips turning quickly at white-chip prices to design houses that accept downgraded parts, black chips into reclaim lines, and remarked dies either returned or priced at white-chip tier with records kept. Export markets need extra care — shipping Samsung/SK Hynix-marked remarked dies involves trademark and fraud exposure, and overseas buyers increasingly demand ID test reports and second-party inspection. This is exactly where most Huaqiangbei and Southeast Asia channel disputes start.

Advice for Recyclers

Build an ID library: compile a lookup table of official IDs and marking features for common families (K4A8G/K4AAG/H5AN8G/H5ANAG/MT40A/K9OK/H27Q/MT29F/TC58TFG) and check as lots arrive
Quote by tier: price genuine/white/black chips transparently in three tiers and add a premium for traceable material
Test and document: issue capacity, bad-block and ID records per lot — lots with reports sell faster at higher prices
Keep compliance backstops: handle trademarked remarked dies carefully and verify trademarks and authorization on export batches

MemoryRecycle has built an ID library and tested sorting system for mainstream DDR4/DDR5, NAND and eMMC dies, covering Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, Kioxia, SanDisk and YMTC across all brands, with transparent genuine/white/black tier pricing and test reports delivered with every lot. For channel traders, design houses, dismantlers and high-volume sellers, we offer free assessment, ID testing and top-market buyback — unlocking the highest price for every die, priced by its true identity.