Making RAM at Home [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#11

Post by denkmoon » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:21 AM UTC

eichin wrote: post #10

CamperBob2 wrote: post #6

Spoiler: we never actually get to see the RAM tested

The graphs towards the end were discharge curves for a single transistor/capacitor cell out of only 16 present, if I understood correctly? So "enough cells to count as memory" and "addressing logic" are definitely future work (it looked like he wanted to characterize what the refresh cycle would have to look like before actually building more.) I was kind of surprised that the "use a microscope as a photolithography…

2 bytes of memory ought to be enough for anyone!

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#12

Post by saganus » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:23 AM UTC

LPisGood wrote: post #5

I saw this video yesterday and considered posting it, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for HN. This channel has another video where it shows how the clean room lab is created starting from a basic backyard shed, and that was truly astounding. The positive pressure to keep the number of particles low in someone’s backyard is almost mystical to me.

If you haven't seen this one, I highly recommend it:

Indistinguishable From Magic: Manufacturing Modern Computer Chips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGFhc8R_uO4&t=2070s

It's quite old but I think there is no modern version of it.

I've tried posting to HN a few times but it hasn't gained traction for some reason, but I find it absolutely mind blowing.

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#13

Post by readitalready » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:25 AM UTC

I only buy free-range artisanal DRAM at the DRAM farmer's market.

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#14

Post by anitil » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:27 AM UTC

LPisGood wrote: post #5

I saw this video yesterday and considered posting it, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for HN. This channel has another video where it shows how the clean room lab is created starting from a basic backyard shed, and that was truly astounding. The positive pressure to keep the number of particles low in someone’s backyard is almost mystical to me.

I think if it's interesting to you then it's worth posting, and letting the voting system do it's thing. I only rarely post because by the time I've seen something it's usually already been posted

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#15

Post by kstrauser » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:27 AM UTC

vlovich123 wrote: post #9

LPisGood wrote: post #5

I saw this video yesterday and considered posting it, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for HN. This channel has another video where it shows how the clean room lab is created starting from a basic backyard shed, and that was truly astounding. The positive pressure to keep the number of particles low in someone’s backyard is almost mystical to me.

You’re not sure if someone building a RAM clean room in a shed is appropriate for HackerNews, literally “news for nerds”? A dictionary purchase may be warranted

Agree with the sentiment, but “news for nerds” is Slashdot.

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#16

Post by SkinTaco » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:39 AM UTC

kstrauser wrote: post #15

vlovich123 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re not sure if someone building a RAM clean room in a shed is appropriate for HackerNews, literally “news for nerds”? A dictionary purchase may be warranted

Agree with the sentiment, but “news for nerds” is Slashdot.

Slashdot still exists?

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#17

Post by duskdozer » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC

LPisGood wrote: post #5

I saw this video yesterday and considered posting it, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for HN. This channel has another video where it shows how the clean room lab is created starting from a basic backyard shed, and that was truly astounding. The positive pressure to keep the number of particles low in someone’s backyard is almost mystical to me.

Tbh this is exactly the sort of thing I'd come here to see

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#18

Post by readitalready » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC

Backyard semiconductor production is pretty similar to backyard barbecue. Lots of heating, smoking (diffusion), injecting (ion implant), and layering..

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#19

Post by kennywinker » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:55 AM UTC

Nobody tell openai about this, they’ll buy up all his stock

Re: Making RAM at Home [video]

#20

Post by LPisGood » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:55 AM UTC

vlovich123 wrote: post #9

LPisGood wrote: post #5

I saw this video yesterday and considered posting it, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for HN. This channel has another video where it shows how the clean room lab is created starting from a basic backyard shed, and that was truly astounding. The positive pressure to keep the number of particles low in someone’s backyard is almost mystical to me.

You’re not sure if someone building a RAM clean room in a shed is appropriate for HackerNews, literally “news for nerds”? A dictionary purchase may be warranted

I think he plans to go far beyond just making RAM in that clean room. This is pure speculation, but I suspect the goal of that channel is to just make doom from scratch.

Given that the shed in this guy’s backyard is already approaching the entire national technological output of any country in the 1970s I think he may get there.