RAM (random access memory) topic
The gist
DRAM prices will have risen 400 percent since 2024 by end of 2026, JP Morgan says.
The crunch is reshaping PC, console and phone costs for ordinary buyers.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2025RAM prices were already rising as Samsung and SK Hynix prioritized high bandwidth memory for AI data centers; Tom's Hardware reporting said around 40% of global DRAM output went to a single AI customer.
- Jan 8, 2026A Citrini Research analyst said DRAM prices rose around 40 percent in Q4 2025 and would be up to 60 percent higher in Q1 2026.
- Mar 13, 2026The memory crisis, dubbed RAMmageddon, was reported to be affecting scientists and expected to linger well into 2027.
Key terms
- DRAM
- A type of semiconductor memory that stores each bit in a cell made of a capacitor and a transistor, and loses data without power.
- high-bandwidth memory
- A memory interface using 3D-stacked DRAM chips to deliver very high bandwidth, often paired with graphics accelerators.
- NAND flash
- A type of flash memory named after the NAND logic gate, used for non-volatile data storage.
Source: Wikipedia