719
RAM is so expensive that stores are selling it at market prices (www.pcworld.com)
submitted 10 months ago by throws_lemy to c/technology@lemmy.world
221 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Generative “AI” data centers are gobbling up trillions of dollars in capital, not to mention heating up the planet like a microwave. As a result there’s a capacity crunch on memory production, shooting the prices for RAM sky high, over 100 percent in the last few months alone. Multiple stores are tired of adjusting the prices day to day, and won’t even display them. You find out how much it costs at checkout.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Oh no.
So even if I manage to somehow get DDR4 for lower prices, I can't expect the SK Hynix modules.

Guess it's going to be a few more years before I can get a RAM upgrade, or maybe never at all.
It might end up being similar to how DDR3 ended up being more expensive than DDR4 for multiple years.

[-] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago

I mean since it's driven by demand from companies running AI models it's mostly impacting higher speed modules with lower speed/capacity kits being less significantly impacted. Granted that's also pushing demand up for those lower speed kits since for gamers quantity matters far more than speed, meanwhile AI really cares about speed most

[-] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 10 months ago

I am going by mainly 2 points:

  • DDR4 being dropped in favour of DDR5
    • What if the places with high quality output end up just staying on DDR5
  • DDR4 being taken by the cheaper manufacturers
    • Ever since seeing how well my old SK Hynix DDR2 has lasted, I have been kinda partial to it. paying $10 - 15 extra to get something that I won't have to replace for the device's lifetime (~20 years) makes sense to me
    • The new modules made by the cheaper ones might not end up being as good and reviews may be hard to find as most enthusiasts that do quality testing, tend to do so only when the tech is new (and now that is DDR5)
this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2025
719 points (98.5% liked)

Technology

88766 readers
2895 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws