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'''RAM shortage''' or '''RAM crisis''' is an event that started at 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 price increase of DRAMs in the market. {{Citation needed}} 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 in a lesser scale. {{Citation needed}} [[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'']]
The '''RAM shortage''' or '''RAM crisis''' is an event that started at 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 price increase of DRAM in the market. {{Citation needed}} 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 at a lesser scale. {{Citation needed}} [[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==
==Background==
With the release of [[ChatGPT]], OpenAI became the pioneer of the Artificial Intelligence boom in the entire world. More companies wanted to develop their own AIs and build infrastructure to compete in the AI market.   
With the release of [[ChatGPT]], OpenAI became the leading pioneer of the 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.
[[Samsung]], [[Micron]], and [[SK Hynix]] are the main RAM producers for consumers and corporations.


==Causes of the shortage==
==Causes of the shortage==
On October 1st 2025, OpenAI signed deals with major memory manufacturers to secure 40% of global RAM production. As of February 2026, RAM prices have tripled compared to October 2025. By late 2026, 70% of all RAM usage is expected to come from AI data centers. [1] It is expected the RAM shortage could last until 2028. {{Citation needed}}
On October 1st 2025, OpenAI signed deals with major memory manufacturers to secure 40% of global RAM production. 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. [[https://medium.com/predict/openai-crashed-the-global-memory-supply-4cc7136c3e73 1]] It is expected the RAM shortage could last until 2028. {{Citation needed}}


==Corporate response==
==Corporate response==


===Micron=== {{Main|Exit of Crucial from consumer business}}
===Micron=== {{Main|Exit of Crucial from consumer business}}
Micron has exited the consumer RAM market to focus resources toward manufacturing RAM to supply AI data centers.  
Micron has exited the consumer RAM market to focus resources toward manufacturing RAM to supply AI data centers.[[https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-announces-exit-crucial-consumer-business 2]]


===Samsung===
===Samsung===
Line 28: Line 28:
==Consequences==
==Consequences==
The shortage of DRAM has already affected personal computing, with consequences like:
The shortage of DRAM has already affected personal computing, with consequences like:
* Samsung and Hk Hynix have increased RAM prices due to slowed production and less competition from Micron<br />
*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 them a less accessible product for a regular consumer.  
*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.
*This also has caused some manufacturers to sell their computers without DRAM included.  
*Some manufacturers selling their computers without DRAM included. One notable example is Maingear, who has started their own BYO (bring your own) RAM program.[[https://maingear.com/blogs/promotions/maingear-byo-ram-program?srsltid=AfmBOooo1KkNAbHNsvNJsk3sLiGEtU3e8NhnDQhSLCDVhO0I4GWNKrRf 3]]
*Consumers resorting to buying DDR4 [[https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Zen-3-AM4-CPU-prices-surge-as-customers-flock-to-desktop-processors-with-DDR4-support.1209042.0.html 4]], and even DDR3, to avoid higher prices.[[https://www.pcworld.com/article/3040452/surprise-ddr3-isnt-dead-and-it-might-be-the-budget-pc-gaming-answer-you-need.html 5]][[https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/seeing-the-absolute-state-of-memory-pricing-chinese-diy-community-opts-for-ddr3-motherboards-instead/ 6]]




==Consumer response==
==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. They have posted several content in social media talking about the topic and their negative impact to personal computing, for example by highlighting the potential fuffilment of Jeff Bezos' desire for consumers to rent computing power from the cloud, taking away ownership, [3] or by making several YouTube videos stating how this will impact the future of home computing.  [4] [5]<br />
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, [[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 7]] and increasingly by making several YouTube videos stating how this will impact the future of home computing.  [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfOREULEqRU 8]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A-eeJP0J7c&t=633s 9]]<br />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}[https://medium.com/predict/openai-crashed-the-global-memory-supply-4cc7136c3e73 <nowiki>[1] Medium</nowiki>]
{{reflist}}[1] [https://medium.com/predict/openai-crashed-the-global-memory-supply-4cc7136c3e73 OpenAI crashed the global memory supply]


[https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-announces-exit-crucial-consumer-business <nowiki>[2] Micron Investors</nowiki>]  
[2] [https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-announces-exit-crucial-consumer-business Micron Announces Exit from Crucial Consumer Business]


[3] [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 Windows Central]
[3] [https://maingear.com/blogs/promotions/maingear-byo-ram-program?srsltid=AfmBOooo1KkNAbHNsvNJsk3sLiGEtU3e8NhnDQhSLCDVhO0I4GWNKrRf MAINGEAR BYO RAM Program]  


[4] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfOREULEqRU RAM prices are Worse Than You Think]
[4] [https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Zen-3-AM4-CPU-prices-surge-as-customers-flock-to-desktop-processors-with-DDR4-support.1209042.0.html AMD Zen 3 AM4 CPU prices surge as customers flock to desktop processors with DDR4 support]


[5][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A-eeJP0J7c&t=633s WTF Just Happened? | The Corrupt Memory Industry & Micron]{{Ph-I-C}}
[5] [https://www.pcworld.com/article/3040452/surprise-ddr3-isnt-dead-and-it-might-be-the-budget-pc-gaming-answer-you-need.html Surprise! DDR3 isn’t dead—and it might be the budget PC gaming answer you need]
 
[6] [https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/seeing-the-absolute-state-of-memory-pricing-chinese-diy-community-opts-for-ddr3-motherboards-instead/ Seeing the absolute state of memory pricing, Chinese DIY community opts for DDR3 motherboards instead]
 
[7] [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 Jeff Bezos said the quiet part out loud — hopes that you'll give up your PC to rent one from the cloud]
 
[8] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfOREULEqRU RAM prices are Worse Than You Think]
 
[9] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A-eeJP0J7c&t=633s WTF Just Happened? | The Corrupt Memory Industry & Micron]
 
 
 
{{Ph-I-C}}
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