RAM prices up 5-6 times in AI crunch, analyst says

Memory prices for PCs and smartphones are around five to six times higher than a year ago as the artificial intelligence boom strains chip supply, TrendForce analyst Ellie Wang said.

The shortage has been nicknamed “RAMaggedon” after RAM, or random-access memory. It has followed chipmakers’ shift toward high-bandwidth memory, a more advanced type used in data centre servers that support AI systems.

Samsung Electronics’ chief financial officer said this week that shortages of memory chips will likely deepen in 2027 and remain tight through 2028.

In Hong Kong’s Wan Chai Computer Centre, Videocom Computer manager Ken Tam said 16 gigabytes of RAM that used to cost HK$300 to HK$400 now costs HK$1,500. He told AFP that his custom-built PC business had halved since price rises began in September.

Wade Lam, manager of In-Technology Services, said the shop had pinned articles about the shortage beside a price list to explain the increases to customers.

The squeeze has benefited major memory chipmakers including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron. Analysts also pointed to possible opportunities for China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies in conventional RAM and DRAM during the supply-constrained period.

Automakers say rising costs for in-vehicle computer systems could also soon push up prices for new vehicles. In Tokyo, graphic designer and custom PC builder Charles Brousse said high component prices were pushing buyers toward cheaper laptops rather than longer-lasting desktops.