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- AI Data Centers are drastically driving RAM demand, causing manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix to max out their production lines.
- Consumer-grade RAM prices have more than doubled since September, and the situation is likely to get worse as OEMs’ safety stocks are bound to run out in 2026.
- RAM, SSDs, and GPUs will be subject to supply-demand mismatches as brands like Samsung and AMD formally announce price hikes due to scarcer quantities, whereas Nvidia stops supplying VRAM to AIBs.
Redirected Resources: Why Your Next PC Is Losing The RAM War
Right now, behind the scenes, a massive and quiet struggle for memory is underway.
To begin with, major OEMs; the household names like Asus, MSI, Lenovo, and Dell are in a frantic race to secure their share of a rapidly shrinking pie.
They aren’t just ordering what they need for next month; they’re stockpiling. They’re building inventories in a desperate attempt to insulate themselves from the inevitable drought.
The cause? An astronomical surge in demand from data centers worldwide, primarily thanks to OpenAI’s Stargate Project, which is estimated to consume up to 40% of total DRAM output.
These vast server farms are the engines of the AI revolution, and they are voraciously consuming two specific types of memory: High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for training complex AI models and RDIMMs for the servers that run them.
Consequently, the production lines at giants like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are being re-routed. Wafers that would have gone into the DDR5 sticks for your next gaming PC are now being allocated to multi-billion-dollar tech corporations.
The priorities have shifted, and we, the consumers, are about to become collateral damage.
The Manufacturer’s Dilemma: Record Profits And Paralyzing Fear
Meanwhile, the memory manufacturers are caught in a paradox of their own making.
On one hand, they are reaping record-high earnings and profits. The laws of supply and demand are working spectacularly in their favor, for now.
You’d think the logical step would be to expand, to build new production facilities to capture this booming market. But they are wary, and frankly, I understand their hesitation.
Many industry experts are loudly sounding the alarm about a potential AI bubble. They warn that the current breakneck investment and demand could be volatile, potentially leading to a sharp correction.
Therefore, manufacturers are therefore caught between cashing in on today’s gold rush and risking billions on new factories that could become white elephants if the bubble bursts. It’s a high-stakes gamble, and their hesitation has profound consequences.
The Inevitable Lag: You Can’t Wish A Fab Into Existence
Furthermore, even if they decided today to flip the switch and build, it would take memory manufacturers months, if not years, to construct new production facilities.
Case in point, Samsung recently announced its plan to build a new chip production plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea as part of its $310.79 billion domestic investment deal that will be executed over the span of the next five years.
Unsurprisingly, Samsung estimated that the plant would commence operations in 2028, which makes me wonder what’s going to happen until then.
Adding on, Micron is also not far behind as it just announced its $9.6 billion plan to build a dedicated HBM fab in Hiroshima which is expected to become operational in 2028 akin to Samsung’s upcoming Pyeongtaek-based production line.
Needless to say, this inherent lag time showcases that even a sudden, decisive move to increase supply might prove too late to avert the shortage that is already locking its sights on 2026.
Unfortunately for us, the delay is baked into the system.
The Domino Effect: Widespread Industrial Inflation
The panic is already manifesting in tangible ways. Samsung has already announced up to a 60% price hike across its RAM lineups where 16GB and 32GB DDR5 RAM are now being sold at a contractual price of $135 and $240, up from roughly $70 and $140, respectively speaking.
Moving on, AMD is also planning to raise its GPUs’ collective prices by at least 10% thanks to the surge in memory pricing, according to this report from Taiwan’s UND.
What’s even more shocking is that Nvidia has supposedly stopped supplying VRAM with their GPU Dies to AIBs, i.e., board partners must now source VRAM themselves.
Moreover, I’m hearing reports that manufacturers are now venturing into the spot market to buy RAM in order to guarantee smooth operations for 2026, regardless of the massively inflated prices.
In fact, if you’ve shopped for RAM recently, you’ve already witnessed the first tremors. For example, the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB CL30, i.e., the Best AMD EXPO RAM as per our testing will now run you $380 for a 32 GB DDR5-6000 kit as compared to its all-time low price of $205.
On top of that, retailers such as those based in Japan are now limiting the sales of RAM modules amongst other PC parts on a per-customer basis as per this report from Akiba PC Hotline.
This is a direct tactic to prevent hoarding and scalping, a clear sign that the market is becoming dangerously strained.
Global RAM Shortage: A Pipeline Running Dry
As I look ahead, the PCMR’s pathway seems to be littered with higher prices, limited choices, and frustrating delays when it comes to RAM, SSDs, and even GPUs.
The data centers’ thirst is unquenchable, the manufacturers are paralyzed by profit and fear, and the clock is ticking down to 2026.
We might see a brief respite thanks to manufacturers’ stockpiling in advance and maintaining buffer inventories, but they will deplete sooner than later.
My advice? Don’t wait. If you’ve been considering a RAM purchase, the time to act was probably yesterday.
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[Wiki Editor]
Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com
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