Memory prices continue to rise

The cost of computer memory, specifically DRAM, has been increasing for nearly a year. A researcher has noted that this trend has set the industry back, comparing it to "erasing 20 years of progress." Even older DDR4 memory, which is widely used, has seen its wholesale price rise by 24 percent over three months, surpassing the cost of the newer DDR5 memory.

Smartphone and software adaptations

Smartphone manufacturers are considering a return to 4 GB of RAM in their devices due to the rising costs. Microsoft has also announced a Windows 11 26H2 update that is designed to be less resource-intensive, allowing it to run smoothly on PCs with only 8 GB of memory.

Future supply challenges

According to research firm TrendForce, the availability of DRAM for PCs is expected to decrease in 2027. This forecast, shared on October 21, will particularly impact consumers who purchase memory sticks separately to build or upgrade their own computers.

Focus on data centers and specialized memory

The major memory manufacturers—Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron—have prioritized supplying data centers over the consumer market. They are increasingly producing HBM, a type of stacked memory used with AI chips, which requires more silicon per gigabyte than traditional RAM. Despite a 25 percent increase in memory supply, prices remain high, with new production facilities expected to begin operations only in 2029.

Long-term contracts and rising costs

Most of the PC RAM produced by Samsung is already reserved through long-term contracts, with over 70 percent secured in advance. As a result, the remaining supply will be shared among memory brands and individual buyers. Some PC assemblers have already experienced a 15 percent increase in memory prices, and TrendForce predicts an additional 15 to 20 percent rise by the end of the year.