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DDR5 RAM Prices Hit Record Highs as Suppliers Curb Deals During AI-Driven Shortage

AI contracts with cloud providers are soaking up memory capacity, starving the consumer market.

Overview

  • Industry trackers report DRAM contract prices are up about 171.8% year over year in 2025.
  • Samsung has paused new DDR5 contract pricing after a spike in spot rates, with reports that other major makers are delaying or not accepting new customers through year-end.
  • SK hynix says its 2026 production is already sold out.
  • Retail DDR5 kits have roughly doubled to all-time highs across major sellers, with price data and user reports showing 32GB DDR5-6000 rising from around $85 in September to well over $200 and many 32GB and 64GB kits up 100% or more.
  • Module brands and retailers, including ADATA, Crucial, Corsair and G.Skill, are reportedly declining new orders, some shops are restricting SSD and HDD sales, and forecasts point to DDR5 increases of roughly 30–50% per quarter into early 2026.