RAM Shortage: Difference between revisions

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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>{{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)

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.

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===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.” 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==

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 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>{{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)
+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.
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ===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.” 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==