Memory Prices Reach Record Highs Amid Global Shortage
The cost of DDR5 memory has skyrocketed in the past 12 months, with prices increasing by nearly 500% for high-capacity kits. The shortage has also affected DDR4 memory, with prices rising by 120% to 180%.
The global memory shortage has led to a significant increase in prices, with DDR5 memory reaching record highs. According to recent data, 128GB DDR5 kits are now selling for $3,399, a tenfold increase from the lowest price ever recorded.
## Memory Prices Reach Record Highs
The cost of DDR5 memory has skyrocketed in the past 12 months, with prices increasing by nearly 500% for high-capacity kits. This is a significant increase, and it's affecting not only PC builders but also other industries that rely on memory, such as gaming and video production.
## Global Impact of the Shortage
The shortage is not limited to the US; it's a global issue. German tech site *ComputerBase* has reported that average RAM prices in Europe have skyrocketed by 345% compared to September 2025. This is not only affecting memory prices but also other components, such as hard drives and SSDs, which have seen price increases of over 125% in the same timeframe.
## Hyperscale Buyers Lock in Global DRAM Production Capacity
The situation is so severe that hyperscale buyers have reportedly already locked in almost all of the global DRAM production capacity for 2027. This means that mainstream DRAM chips are now worth over half as much per kilogram as solid gold. PC and smartphone makers are fighting over the scraps, as low-priority markets compared to the extremely lucrative AI datacenter buildouts.
## Industry Experts Predict Continued Shortage
Industry experts are predicting that the shortage will continue for the foreseeable future. SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung has warned that 2027 will be the worst year for memory supply in the industry's history, forecasting that demand will outstrip their ability to produce it well into 2030. ADATA's Chairman, Simon Chen, has also expressed pessimism, suggesting that the DRAM crisis could last another 10 years.
## What This Means for Consumers
For consumers, this means that they will have to pay a premium for memory or learn to get by with less. The era of cheap, plentiful memory is over, at least for now. If you need RAM today, you're either going to have to bite the bullet and pay the premium or wait for prices to drop.
## Comparison of DDR5 Memory Prices
| Capacity | Speed | Price (2026) | Price (2025) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 64GB | DDR5-5600 | $1,100 | $200 | | 128GB | DDR5-5600 | $3,399 | $72 |
Note: The prices listed are for standard 2x32GB DDR5-5600 kits.
