RAM is a PC component that is talked about much less often than the CPU or GPU. But if there's too little, the computer won't work properly. Every PC needs RAM, which is a problem because RAM prices are skyrocketing. Howtogeek.com portal speakWhy.
In this context, RAM prices have been quite low in recent years. Therefore, the current leap seems especially obvious: enthusiasts are used to the fact that PCs can fill capacity with dead RAM for relatively modest amounts.
However, since mid-2024, DDR5 RAM prices have doubled; According to Tom's Hardware, they are growing even faster than the value of gold. Flash memory, used in SSDs for a variety of devices, is also increasing in price. And while iron producers are trying to ensure the supply of raw materials, a real price war is taking place in the market, making the situation even worse.
One of the main reasons RAM used to be cheap was simple – supply exceeded demand. By 2023, there will be enough RAM sticks for everyone who needs them, and DRAM manufacturers will set prices accordingly. But now reserves have been exhausted and demand from data centers continues to increase. In fact, there could be a global DRAM shortage by 2026—rising prices won't help bring more memory chips to market. To do this, manufacturers need to deploy additional production, which takes time.
Why did data centers start buying so much RAM? The main culprit is AI, which pushes companies to massively buy video cards, processors, memory cards and SSDs. Here one could argue that data centers use different RAM modules than those installed in regular PCs, but hardware manufacturers have to shift resources one way or another. Since it is the big AI companies that generate most of the demand and generate profits, brands prefer to devote production capacity to them.
As a result, production of conventional consumer memory modules is gradually decreasing, leading to higher prices due to limited demand. But there's another important point: the industry is in a transitional state between DDR 4 and DDR5. The power of the first one is still more than enough for most people's needs – only those interested in assembling the most powerful configurations will buy the new die.
DDR5 dies are more complex and expensive to produce than DDR4, and companies have not yet scaled them up enough to increase prices. It is likely that, in the long run, today's boom in RAM demand will paradoxically lead to cheaper DDR5 – in real market conditions, there is no strong consumer demand for new, powerful RAM modules.
But in the short term, this only harms PC users. Ironically, DDR4 is also becoming more expensive as the production of this RAM standard is gradually phased out. Therefore, it is difficult for people who want to save money to buy used molds at cheap prices.
Is there any way to deal with the situation? Of course there is – for now it's better not to think about buying new RAM, at least for the next few years. No need to panic and run to the hardware store to find the dead: the shortage is only temporary, sooner or later the supply will run out. If you don't have an immediate need for RAM, you can always wait; For those who do not perform heavy tasks on their work computer, 32 GB of RAM is quite enough.
