WATCH OUT FOR RAM PRICES!

Yearofthegoat · Nov 28, 2025

So glad I upgraded my machine back in October. My DDR5 RAM (6000CL28 32GB) was £117. Which I thought was a bit steep at the time (given that I bought 32GB DDR4 for around £90 a couple of years ago) but okay, it's an upgrade after all. Same kit is now ca. £180 but out of stock everywhere.

This reminds me very much of the GPU price rises that have never really returned to their pre-mining craze levels. Setting up a new PC gaming rig is a non-starter for my son now. Console is the clear winner - I saw a new PS5 for ca. £260 in BF offers, cheaper than lots of RAM kits.

Scannerman · Nov 28, 2025

Most games can be played just fine with DDR4 Ram and a half decent GFX card. 32GB of DDR4 system RAM is generally more than enough. If enough people refused to buy at these outrageous prices the bubble would pop, but just like with the bit mining craze we all know that isn't likely to happen. At my age I can afford to bow out of this game. I still have PCs running just fine here, on the home front, using DDR3. The only practical approach to this is to boycott all retail RAM purchases. Mind, the used market will be taking advantage of this as well.

colinp · Nov 28, 2025

Even though I think I can guess...why is the price of DDR4 so high, compared to a couple months ago? Isn't DDR4 old hat now and everyone wants DDR5?

DJNelson · Nov 28, 2025

PerpetualCycle said:
Oh my

Fortunately I've been around long enough to realize the only things I would need that much RAM for are video editing and compressing/decompressing HUGE files, and I have a linux box with 192GB of RAM for that. My laptop is mostly a portable gaming machine that I occasionally use to help others with their computer problems, and 32GB is more than enough for that purpose.

bobkn · Nov 28, 2025

colinp said:
Even though I think I can guess...why is the price of DDR4 so high, compared to a couple months ago? Isn't DDR4 old hat now and everyone wants DDR5?

I doubt that DDR4 is obsolete yet.

But the prices of older RAM types (like DDR3) tend to rise. I don't know the explanation, but I suppose that is because it isn't manufactured much any more.

itsme1 · Nov 28, 2025

Correction of my previous post
"focusing on HBM and DDR5 memory for AI"

BamaInArk · Nov 28, 2025

itsme1 said:
Correction of my previous post
"focusing on HBM and DDR5 memory for AI"

I think it's HBM that is getting priority now so they're reducing manufacture of DDR5. Thus reducing supply of DDR5 Ram with the resulting price increase.
I know some mention "Supply and Demand" however what I feel is the manufacturers have figured out is they can increase profit by controlling the "Supply" side of Econ 101. Reducing the supply of DDR5 of course causes prices to rise. The same thing Nvidia has been doing now for years to artificially keep GPU prices higher.

Scannerman · Nov 28, 2025

BamaInArk said:
I think it's HBM that is getting priority now so they're reducing manufacture of DDR5. Thus reducing supply of DDR5 Ram with the resulting price increase.
I know some mention "Supply and Demand" however what I feel is the manufacturers have figured out is they can increase profit by controlling the "Supply" side of Econ 101. Reducing the supply of DDR5 of course causes prices to rise. The same thing Nvidia has been doing now for years to artificially keep GPU prices higher.

Part of the increase is due to Samsung jacking up the chip prices by 60%. The other manufacturers have to fall into line or lose the race. NVIDIA has already proven the money grab works. Meanwhile the used market benefits because so many people can't afford these prices so DDR3 prices will increase not only because of availability but also because of increase in demand. Myself, I'll be keeping a close eye on Micron but my personal needs for RAM have pretty much been met. I feel sorry for all the dupes who actually buy into this game. This is taking price gouging to a whole new level.

bobkn · Nov 28, 2025

BamaInArk said:
(snip) The same thing Nvidia has been doing now for years to artificially keep GPU prices higher.

Maybe so. But I presume they're under pressure to use manufacturing capacity for AI components, not graphics cards.

TairikuOkami · Nov 28, 2025

This topic makes me feel good about buying 64GB DDR5 a year ago for $200. Usually I regret purchases like this, the prices drop.

Josey Wales · Nov 28, 2025

I checked out 2 sticks of DDR 5 Crucial Ram 32 GB for about $600.00. I will stay with the 32GB thank I have.

Dark Knight · Nov 28, 2025

TairikuOkami said:
This topic makes me feel good about buying 64GB DDR5 a year ago for $200. Usually I regret purchases like this, the prices drop.

View attachment 154743

View attachment 154745

Just back in May I bought 64 Gigs of DDR5 ram (two sticks 32 gigs each) for just $156 on Amazon, the very two same sticks are now going for $367 , prices have more than doubled. ..... sickening

gunrunnerjohn · Nov 29, 2025

Dark Knight said:
Just back in May I bought 64 Gigs of DDR5 ram (two sticks 32 gigs each) for just $156 on Amazon, the very two same sticks are now going for $367 , prices have more than doubled. ..... sickening

That's actually a pretty competitive price based on other prices I've seen lately!

Dark Knight · Nov 29, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
That's actually a pretty competitive price based on other prices I've seen lately!

Guess it depends on what brand you are looking at, in my case is was Corsair Vengeance

Scannerman · Nov 29, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
That's actually a pretty competitive price based on other prices I've seen lately!

It's still jacked. Should be half that much. The golden age is over, boys. The Candy Man's gone. Ain't it a shame, ain't it a crime. Your US dollar has the strength of a dime. (And the rest of the markets fall in line.) RAM has always been a commodity.

PhilB · Nov 29, 2025

Scannerman said:
Part of the increase is due to Samsung jacking up the chip prices by 60%. The other manufacturers have to fall into line or lose the race.

If SamSung jacks up memory prices why do the other manufacturers have to "fall into line?" Do they also need to raise prices?

What is the "race" here?

XxXxX · Nov 30, 2025

x509 said:
If SamSung jacks up memory prices why do the other manufacturers have to "fall into line?" Do they also need to raise prices?

What is the "race" here?

to slow down sales so production can be diverted towards the biggest user of RAM and Drives at the moment
that being the major players building mega data centres for AI.

these AI data centres are eating RAM and Drives at a massive rate.
best of luck Steve ..

Scannerman · Nov 30, 2025

x509 said:
If SamSung jacks up memory prices why do the other manufacturers have to "fall into line?" Do they also need to raise prices?

What is the "race" here?

They all have to volley for the money grab. For example, NVIDIA stays in the lead because they have the means to stay in the lead. They can afford the best tech, the best silicon, the best brains etc. because they have the means (aka MUNNY) to do so. They can afford to raise the stakes when they wish. The rest of the competition can follow if they can keep up or, cash out or, gracefully fade out of the picture. The psychology of marketing is a big factor in this scheme. Why do they do it? A: Because they can. The winner takes it all.

Basically there are three major chip manufacturers when it comes to RAM. Samsung is #1 so they set the bar. I believe the other two are SK Hynix and Micron although you can check me on that. Doubtless these manufacturers are all catering to the AI data centres Steve mentioned above. We, the plebs, must pay the piper just like all the other manufacturers who get their chips from the big three. Part of the reason I switched from RAM using Samsung chips (I was a big fan of "B" die) is because I was already seeing the price gouging and so I opted for Micron because they did their own thing and also made their own chips. I also liked the idea of supporting American based manufacturing and I wouldn't mind seeing more of it in the future.

Gas · Dec 1, 2025

My order issued 2025-02-12, prices are VAT included, today price of te same RAM, this is pure madness.

OldNavy · Dec 1, 2025

I purchased some G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 64GB Kit (2x32GB) DDR5-6000 C30 for my next build in September for $405 AUD.
Today it is now $1299 AUD.
The motherboard and CPU prices have not moved much.

WATCH OUT FOR RAM PRICES!

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