RAM Prices Spike
Hardware watchers say AI and data‑center demand is driving RAM, NVMe and GPU prices up — with 64GB RAM kits reportedly trading near $1,000 and analysts warning relief could be delayed until 2028. Those price pressures are being cited in industry posts urging buyers to consider purchasing now rather than waiting for a quick drop (x.com) (x.com).
Computer memory prices are climbing again as chip makers steer supply toward artificial intelligence servers and away from cheaper consumer parts. (trendforce.com) TrendForce said on March 31 that conventional dynamic random-access memory contract prices are expected to rise 58% to 63% in the second quarter of 2026, after forecasting on February 2 that first-quarter prices would jump 90% to 95%. The same firm said NAND flash contract prices are set to rise 70% to 75% in the second quarter, after a 55% to 60% increase in the first quarter. (trendforce.com 1) (trendforce.com 2) Dynamic random-access memory is the short-term working space a computer uses while programs are open, and NAND flash is the long-term storage used in solid-state drives. TrendForce said suppliers are reallocating capacity toward high-bandwidth memory and server products, while enterprise solid-state drives are absorbing more NAND output. (trendforce.com 1) (trendforce.com 2) High-bandwidth memory is a premium kind of stacked memory built for artificial intelligence accelerators, and it carries far higher margins than mainstream personal computer memory. Samsung said in February that it had started mass production of HBM4 for data centers, while SK hynix said in January that demand for HBM3E and HBM4 is fueling what it called an artificial-intelligence-led memory supercycle. (samsung.com) (skhynix.com) Micron, one of the three big memory makers alongside Samsung and SK hynix, reported record fiscal second-quarter 2026 revenue of $23.86 billion on March 18 and said the results reflected “a strong demand environment” and “tight industry supply.” The company’s cloud memory unit posted $7.75 billion in revenue for the quarter ended February 26. (micron.com) Server buyers are also locking in supply with long-term agreements, which leaves less flexibility for the rest of the market. TrendForce said North American cloud service providers are accelerating artificial intelligence inference deployments and targeting high-capacity registered dual in-line memory modules, while near-term supply remains tight. (trendforce.com) The squeeze is spreading beyond memory sticks into storage. TrendForce said on January 27 that demand for high-capacity enterprise solid-state drives had “exploded,” with suppliers prioritizing dynamic random-access memory and shortages triggering “record-breaking price hikes.” (trendforce.com) That helps explain why hardware forums and deal trackers are reporting sticker shock on consumer parts, including some 64-gigabyte and 128-gigabyte kits that cost several times more than they did in 2025. Those retail prices can swing faster than contract prices, but the contract market is where manufacturers and large buyers set the tone for the rest of the supply chain. (tomshardware.com) (trendforce.com) Relief is not likely to come from a sudden wave of new supply. TrendForce said suppliers are still shifting lines toward higher-profit products, and Samsung, SK hynix and Micron are all framing 2026 around expanding artificial intelligence memory output rather than cheap commodity modules. (trendforce.com) (samsung.com) (skhynix.com) (micron.com) For personal computer builders, the market now looks less like a short sale and more like a capacity fight between cloud companies and everyone else. Until suppliers add meaningful output outside artificial intelligence parts, memory and storage prices are likely to stay elevated. (trendforce.com)
