All articles tagged with #ram prices
Industry forecasts indicate RAM prices will stay elevated through 2028 due to AI-driven demand and supply constraints, with analysts warning of continued price hikes for PCs and consoles and potential delays for next-gen hardware like PlayStation 6.
AMD is extending the AM4 era through 2029 and reviving older CPUs to combat rising RAM costs: the Ryzen 7 5800X3D will reappear at about $350, and a Ryzen 7 7700X3D priced around $330 hits July 15, while the Radeon RX 9070 GRE is launching in the US at $550 with 12GB of VRAM. This strategy aims to offer budget-friendly sidegrades rather than full upgrades, helping gamers stuck with high RAM prices and older platforms while AM5 remains the future.
US retailers report a rare price dip for Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM on Amazon amid a continued memory shortage, but broad consumer relief remains unlikely in the near term as enterprise AI and data-center demand pressure supply. Google's TurboQuant AI compression could reduce memory needs in data centers, potentially easing the shortage over the long run, though prices for most DDR5 options are still elevated and broader hardware costs affect PC building.
An opinion piece argues that RAM matters for video editing but more RAM isn’t a cure-all amid a RAM shortage and rising prices. For most 4K editing, 32GB is a practical sweet spot; 64GB benefits longer timelines and heavier VFX, while 8–16GB is usually insufficient. Budget-minded editors can use DDR4 on older systems or proxy media, though DDR5 kits remain costly. The RAM crunch could ease around 2028 as prices normalize.
IDC projects smartphone shipments to fall about 12.9% in 2026 due to a global RAM shortage driven by AI datacenters, while average selling prices rise to a record around $523. Memory costs aren’t expected to revert to pre-crisis levels, likely making sub-$100 phones uneconomical and shifting market share toward Apple and Samsung.
A global memory shortage tied to AI-driven demand could push Sony’s PS6 beyond its 2027 target, with Phison CEO Pua Khein-Seng warning the crunch could last up to 10 years and affect devices from phones to consoles. He argues AI GPUs requiring large SSDs could consume a significant portion of NAND capacity, driving prices higher. Sony says it has secured components through 2026, but the outlook beyond that remains uncertain, leaving a PS6 delay plausible even if some still expect a launch around the current window.
With RAM costs rising, Sony is reportedly weighing expanded monetization of PS5 users, potentially through PS Plus price hikes and broader live-service strategies, as part of a broader push to protect margins amid industry-wide price pressures.
TT Games has cut Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's recommended PC RAM from 32 GB to 16 GB as it continues optimizing ahead of the May launch, in a shift prompted by AI‑driven RAM shortages and soaring memory prices; the change follows a similar downgrade for IO Interactive’s 007: First Light and signals that 32 GB won’t be necessary for many upcoming PC games.
A PC hobbyist reportedly salvaged about $500 worth of premium DDR4 RAM from a dump or recycling center, highlighting how scavenging discarded hardware can yield valuable components as RAM prices spike. The piece touches on dumpster-diving for PC parts and invites reader perspectives on salvaging hardware, amid broader hardware market dynamics.
A MST Financial analyst says Sony will extend the PS5 lifecycle and delay the PS6 beyond earlier expectations, citing strong PS5 sales and rising RAM costs; there is no confirmed PS6 date yet, and the previously targeted 2027 launch may slip as RAM prices stay high.
Analyst David Gibson predicts the PlayStation 6 may be delayed far beyond the 2027/2028 window due to high RAM prices and broader economic pressures, with a launch possibly pushed to 2029/2030 or later. Sony is expected to extend the PS5 lifecycle rather than rush a new generation, as price inflation becomes a persistent near‑term factor. The piece contrasts this with Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch and warns that delaying new hardware could be preferable to releasing an expensive, underwhelming upgrade.
Framework has raised RAM prices for its Desktop and Mainframe systems in response to higher supplier costs, adding about $40 to the 32GB and 64GB options and $460 to the 128GB configuration (new prices: $1,139 for 32GB, $1,639 for 64GB, $2,459 for 128GB). Existing pre-orders will keep the old pricing, and Framework says it will lower RAM prices again when market conditions calm, as RAM costs rise amid AI and data-center demand.
Rising demand for AI and data center memory, especially DDR5 and HBM, has driven up RAM prices globally, leading to a shortage that is expected to impact smartphone costs and configurations in 2026. Manufacturers may reduce RAM in devices, delay high-memory models, or shift focus to storage, resulting in higher prices and potentially lower performance options for consumers. The supply constraints are unlikely to ease until at least 2027, influencing the smartphone market significantly.
The IDC warns that a memory shortage driven by AI infrastructure demands could lead to an 8.9% decline in PC shipments by 2026, with rising RAM costs causing higher prices and potential industry contraction, especially affecting smaller manufacturers and smartphone markets.
Apple continues to rely on Samsung for RAM components as prices for RAM modules soar, highlighting ongoing supply chain challenges in the semiconductor industry.