Editing RAM Shortage

{{Stub}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=OpenAI, Samsung, Micron
|StartDate=2025-10-01
|Status=Active
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Price Fixing, Supply Shortage
|Description=OpenAI has made large RAM purchasing deals with major manufacturers for its Stargate project, leading to a consumer shortage of RAM globally.
}}

The '''RAM shortage''' or '''RAM crisis''' started around the end of 2025 as a consequence of AI companies making deals with hardware manufacturers to produce and supply the AI companies with [[wikipedia:Dynamic_random-access_memory|dynamic random-access memory (DRAM)]]. This caused a significant supply shortage and corresponding price increase of DRAM in the consumer market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ehrhardt |first=Michelle |date=2025-12-10 |title=Why RAM Prices Are Going Way, Way Up (and Why You Should Care) |url=https://lifehacker.com/tech/ram-prices-going-up#:~:text=But%20the%20largest%20RAM%20price,doubled%20profits%20over%20last%20year. |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Lifehacker |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260107025034/https://lifehacker.com/tech/ram-prices-going-up |archive-date=7 Jan 2026}}</ref> Prices of other computer components, such as [[wikipedia:Solid-state_drive|solid-state drives (SSDs)]] and [[wikipedia:Graphics_processing_unit|graphics processing units (GPUs)]] have also increased, although at a lesser scale.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Garreffa |first=Anthony |date=2025-12-27 |title=AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards will be more expensive in early 2026 because of DRAM crisis |url=https://www.tweaktown.com/news/109484/amd-and-nvidia-graphics-cards-will-be-more-expensive-in-early-2026-because-of-dram-crisis/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=TweakTown |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111210901/https://www.tweaktown.com/news/109484/amd-and-nvidia-graphics-cards-will-be-more-expensive-in-early-2026-because-of-dram-crisis/index.html |archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Munnawer |first=Amna |date=2026-02-12 |title=Why SSDs Are Getting More Expensive In 2026? |url=https://directmacro.com/blog/post/why-ssds-are-getting-expensive |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Direct Macro |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220191816/https://directmacro.com/blog/post/why-ssds-are-getting-expensive |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Nasir |first=Hassam |date=2026-02-17 |title=New report shows RAM prices are continuing to fall in Germany, US trends less certain — SSDs and HDDs are more expensive than ever in the States |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/new-report-shows-ram-prices-are-continuing-to-fall-in-germany-u-s-trends-less-certain-ssds-and-hdds-are-more-expensive-than-ever |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Tom's Hardware |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218163201/https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/new-report-shows-ram-prices-are-continuing-to-fall-in-germany-u-s-trends-less-certain-ssds-and-hdds-are-more-expensive-than-ever |archive-date=18 Feb 2026}}</ref> [[File:CrucialProOverclocking32GB(2x16GB)DDR5-6000CL36MemoryPriceIncreasePCPartPicker.png|thumb|A screenshot of a graph from [https://pcpartpicker.com/ PcPartPicker] taken on 02-06-2026 showing the price increase of the product ''Crucial Pro Overclocking 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory'']]

==Background==
With the release of [[ChatGPT]], [[OpenAI]] became the leading pioneer of artificial intelligence. Seeing this, more companies wanted to develop their own AI models and build infrastructure to compete in the AI market. [[Samsung]], [[Micron]], and [[SK Hynix]] are the main RAM producers for consumers and corporations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crider |first=Michael |date=2026-02-10 |title=Report: Desperate PC manufacturers are turning to China for RAM |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3057590/report-desperate-pc-manufacturers-turn-to-china-for-ram.html |access-date=2026-02-11 |work=PC World |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224121921/https://www.pcworld.com/article/3057590/report-desperate-pc-manufacturers-turn-to-china-for-ram.html |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Causes of the shortage==
On October 1st 2025, OpenAI signed deals with major memory manufacturers to secure 40% of global RAM production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shilov |first=Anton |date=2025-10-01 |title=OpenAI's Stargate project to consume up to 40% of global DRAM output — inks deal with Samsung and SK hynix to the tune of up to 900,000 wafers per month |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/openais-stargate-project-to-consume-up-to-40-percent-of-global-dram-output-inks-deal-with-samsung-and-sk-hynix-to-the-tune-of-up-to-900-000-wafers-per-month |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Tom's Hardware |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260115053840/https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/openais-stargate-project-to-consume-up-to-40-percent-of-global-dram-output-inks-deal-with-samsung-and-sk-hynix-to-the-tune-of-up-to-900-000-wafers-per-month |archive-date=15 Jan 2026}}</ref> As of February 2026, RAM prices have tripled compared to October 2025. By late 2026, AI datacenters are expected to take 70% of all RAM usage.  It is expected the RAM shortage could last until 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Darragh |date=2026-01-14 |title='DRAM shortages could persist for quite some time now': Micron on RAM crisis lasting until 2028 with high AI demand, 'we are still servicing the consumer market' |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/theres-just-not-enough-supply-to-go-around-micron-believes-ram-shortage-wont-improve-until-2028-at-least-until-the-ai-demand-starts-to-fade-away |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Tom's Guide |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222085320/https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/theres-just-not-enough-supply-to-go-around-micron-believes-ram-shortage-wont-improve-until-2028-at-least-until-the-ai-demand-starts-to-fade-away |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

The shortage is being further accelerated by hardware manufacturers such as Sony, Nintendo, Valve, and other companies with a vested interest in securing RAM for their devices. These include products like gaming consoles, smart TVs, and handheld systems. Many of these companies are already locking in exclusive deals to secure RAM supplies separate from the AI-related demand mentioned above. Earingcalls from Sony<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=FY2025 Q3 Earnings Announcement |url=https://www.irwebmeeting.com/sony/vod/20260205/L2qGzweh/202603_3q_02_en/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=https://www.sony.com}}</ref> and Nintendo<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-02 |title=Nine Months Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2026 (Online)
Nintendo Co., Ltd. |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/260204e.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=https://www.nintendo.co.jp |page=1, A1}}</ref> reveal this even before the Media will pick up on it.

The effects are already becoming visible in 2026, with higher prices for consumer hardware<ref name=":1" />. Instead of absorbing these costs, companies are passing them on to customers. Their explanation typically points to market conditions, tariffs, and similar factors.

==Corporate response==

===Micron===
{{Main|Micron retires Crucial products from consumer business}}
In December 2025, Micron announced and retired their consumer-targeted brand, Crucial, from the consumer market. This affected RAM memories and solid state disks (SSDs). Micron took this iniciative to supply AI data centers. After February 2026, shipments of Crucial products are no longer done. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Satya |last2=Plungy |first2=Mark |date=2025-12-03 |title=Micron Announces Exit from Crucial Consumer Business |url=https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-announces-exit-crucial-consumer-business |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Micron |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220192654/https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-announces-exit-crucial-consumer-business |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> 

===Samsung===
Samsung has promised to continue selling SSDs despite rumors that it had plans to leave the consumer market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batt |first=Simon |date=2025-12-15 |title=No, we're not backing out of the consumer SSD market, says Samsung |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/not-backing-out-of-consumer-ssd-market-samsung/#:~:text=We%27ll%20keep%20selling%20SSDs%20to%20the%20consumer%2C%20says%20Samsung&text=Right%20now%2C%20we%27re%20seeing,supplying%20us%20with%20its%20hardware. |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=XDA Developers |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260109215923/https://www.xda-developers.com/not-backing-out-of-consumer-ssd-market-samsung/ |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Sony===
Price increases across consumer hardware are officially attributed to “market conditions.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-04 |title=New Price Changes for PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal remote player |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/27/new-price-changes-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-remote-player/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=https://blog.playstation.com}}</ref> However, based on statements made during earnings calls<ref name=":2" />, this does not appear to be the full explanation. The companies them-selves report rising hardware sales and increased revenue, suggesting that the higher costs could have been absorbed without necessarily raising prices.

Although memory prices have increased, these companies had already planned ahead to mitigate such cost pressures without suffering significant financial drawbacks. As mentioned in earnings calls, preparations made between 2024 and 2026 were intended to offset these challenges, this can be seen on the basis of the operating income that was already adjusted for the 2026 forecast<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-02 |title=Q3 FY2025 Consolidated Financial Results |url=https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/er/pdf/25q3_sonypre.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=https://www.sony.com |page=8}}</ref>. Therefore, the decision to raise prices appears to be less about necessity and more about an opportunity to increase profitability, rather than relying on those earlier preparations to absorb the costs<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-18 |title=Sony plans to minimize effect of rising PlayStation 5 memory costs by boosting software and network service revenue, according to CFO |url=https://automaton-media.com/en/news/sony-plans-to-minimize-effect-of-rising-playstation-5-memory-costs-by-boosting-software-and-network-service-revenue-according-to-cfo/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=https://automaton-media.com}}</ref>.

==Consequences==
The shortage of DRAM has already affected personal computing, with consequences like:
*Samsung and SK Hynix have increased RAM prices due to slowed production and less competition from Micron.
*The DRAM price increase has also increased the price to purchase a whole new computer, making computers a less accessible product for a regular consumer.
*Some manufacturers selling their computers without DRAM included. One notable example is Maingear, who has started their own BYO (bring your own) RAM program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bring your own RAM, we’ll build you a complete PC. |url=https://maingear.com/blogs/promotions/maingear-byo-ram-program |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Maingear |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208065852/https://maingear.com/blogs/promotions/maingear-byo-ram-program |archive-date=8 Feb 2026}}</ref>
*Consumers resorting to buying DDR4 <ref>{{Cite web |last=Murtaza |first=Fawad |date=2026-01-22 |title=AMD Zen 3 AM4 CPU prices surge as customers flock to desktop processors with DDR4 support |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Zen-3-AM4-CPU-prices-surge-as-customers-flock-to-desktop-processors-with-DDR4-support.1209042.0.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=NotebookCheck |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260224121950/https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Zen-3-AM4-CPU-prices-surge-as-customers-flock-to-desktop-processors-with-DDR4-support.1209042.0.html |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, and even DDR3, to avoid higher prices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yee |first=Alainia |date=2026-01-23 |title=Surprise! DDR3 isn’t dead—and it might be the budget PC gaming answer you need |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3040452/surprise-ddr3-isnt-dead-and-it-might-be-the-budget-pc-gaming-answer-you-need.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124075610/https://www.pcworld.com/article/3040452/surprise-ddr3-isnt-dead-and-it-might-be-the-budget-pc-gaming-answer-you-need.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kinghorn |first=Jess |date=2026-01-14 |title=Seeing the absolute state of memory pricing, Chinese DIY community opts for DDR3 motherboards instead |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/seeing-the-absolute-state-of-memory-pricing-chinese-diy-community-opts-for-ddr3-motherboards-instead/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260117162610/https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/seeing-the-absolute-state-of-memory-pricing-chinese-diy-community-opts-for-ddr3-motherboards-instead/ |archive-date=17 Jan 2026}}</ref><br />
==Consumer response==
The RAM shortage has caused outrage amongst consumers, talking about how manufacturers are prioritizing the profits of the AI market and ignoring regular consumers. Lots of content on social media has been posted talking about the topic and its negative impact on personal computing, for example by highlighting the potential fulfillment of Jeff Bezos' desire for consumers to rent computing power from the cloud; taking away ownership<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corden |first=Jez |date=2026-01-13 |title=Jeff Bezos said the quiet part out loud — hopes that you'll give up your PC to rent one from the cloud |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence/jeff-bezos-says-the-quiet-part-out-loud-bezos-envisions-that-youll-give-up-your-pc-for-an-ai-cloud-version |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Windows Central |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221193537/https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence/jeff-bezos-says-the-quiet-part-out-loud-bezos-envisions-that-youll-give-up-your-pc-for-an-ai-cloud-version |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref>, and increasingly by making several YouTube videos stating how this will impact the future of home computing.  <ref>{{Cite web |last=MonkeyExplains |first= |date=2026-01-18 |title=RAM Prices Are Worse Then You Think |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfOREULEqRU |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Youtube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=IfOREULEqRU |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gamers Nexus |date=2025-12-05 |title=WTF Just Happened? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A-eeJP0J7c&t=633s |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Youtube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=9A-eeJP0J7c |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Current market data suggests that many consumers are actively choosing not to purchase newer, higher priced graphics cards such as the RTX 50 series. The Steam Hardware & Software Survey<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-08 |title=Steam-Hard- & Softwareumfrage: March 2025 |url=https://gaming.news/codex/steam-hardware-survey-august-2025-key-changes-trends-and-takeaways/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=https://gaming.news}}</ref> shows that mainstream adoption continues to favor more affordable, mid-range GPUs, with models like the RTX 4060 overtaking the RTX 3060 as the most widely used. Even within the latest generation, the RTX 5070 leads over lower-tier alternatives, indicating selective upgrades rather than broad adoption.

At the same time, the continued dominance of GPUs with 8 GB of VRAM and the gradual transition toward 32 GB of system RAM suggest that consumers are prioritizing balanced, cost-effective upgrades over premium, high-priced hardware. This behavior indicates resistance to inflated pricing, with buyers opting to delay upgrades, stick to older models, or choose more reasonably priced options instead of adopting overpriced new releases.

==References==
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