Why are RAM prices going up? DDR5 price rises explained
If you priced out a PC recently, the RAM line probably made you wince. There isn't one reason prices are rising; several pile on top of each other.
1. AI data centers get served first
AI servers use enormous amounts of memory. Data center buyers order more and pay more, so supply goes to them first.
Consumer products such as desktop RAM share what is left, which pushes prices up.
2. Production moves to HBM
HBM, the high-bandwidth memory on AI accelerators, earns far more per wafer than ordinary DRAM. When Samsung, SK hynix and Micron shift capacity to HBM and server DRAM, less is left for desktop DDR5.
3. DDR4 is being phased out
Memory makers are winding down DDR4. When supply shrinks faster than demand, even an old standard can get more expensive.
4. Contract prices move first, retail follows
Memory prices move first in contracts with big customers and reach store shelves weeks or months later. Headlines about rising DRAM contract prices usually mean retail prices will follow.
So when should you buy?
Nobody can call the bottom. But with a daily record of the lowest price you can at least see whether today's price is high or low for the past month. Check today's prices and each product's 30-day low and high below.
Today's memory prices
| Product | Today | 30-day low | 30-day high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung DDR5 16GB | ₩349,690 | ₩349,690 | ₩349,690 |
| Samsung DDR5 32GB | ₩790,970 | ₩790,970 | ₩790,970 |
| SK hynix DDR5 16GB | ₩377,000 | ₩377,000 | ₩377,000 |
| SK hynix DDR5 32GB | ₩822,000 | ₩822,000 | ₩822,000 |
| Crucial DDR5 16GB | ₩361,290 | ₩361,290 | ₩361,290 |
| Crucial DDR5 32GB | ₩779,000 | ₩779,000 | ₩779,000 |
| Crucial DDR5 64GB (32GB×2) | ₩1,694,400 | ₩1,692,140 | ₩1,694,400 |
| KLEVV DDR5 16GB | ₩329,930 | ₩329,930 | ₩329,950 |
| KLEVV DDR5 32GB | ₩754,890 | ₩754,890 | ₩754,890 |
| KLEVV DDR5 64GB (32GB×2) | ₩1,811,300 | ₩1,811,300 | ₩1,811,300 |
| Corsair DDR5 32GB (16GB×2) | ₩912,500 | ₩912,500 | ₩912,500 |
| Corsair DDR5 64GB (32GB×2) | ₩1,914,120 | ₩1,914,120 | ₩1,914,120 |
| G.SKILL DDR5 32GB (16GB×2) | ₩963,000 | ₩950,400 | ₩963,000 |
| G.SKILL DDR5 64GB (32GB×2) | ₩1,978,500 | ₩1,978,500 | ₩1,978,500 |
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