RAM Shortage: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Fixed citations, added a little more text to Samsung's Corporate response... if anything needs elaboration/fixing just let me know. |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
}} | }} | ||
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.{{ | 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}}</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>{{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}}</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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</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== | ==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|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3057590/report-desperate-pc-manufacturers-turn-to-china-for-ram.html| | 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}}</ref> | ||
==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.<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}}</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.{{ | 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}}</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}}</ref> | ||
==Corporate response== | ==Corporate response== | ||
=== Micron === | ===Micron=== | ||
{{Main|Exit of Crucial from consumer business}} | {{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.<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}}</ref> | Micron has exited the consumer RAM market to focus resources toward manufacturing RAM to supply AI data centers.<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}}</ref> | ||
===Samsung=== | ===Samsung=== | ||
Samsung has promised to continue selling SSDs | 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}}</ref> | ||
==Consequences== | ==Consequences== | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
*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. | *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}}</ref> | *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}}</ref> | ||
*Consumers resorting to buying DDR4 | *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}}</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}}</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}}</ref><br /> | ||
==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. 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 | 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}}</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}}</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}}</ref><br /> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 18:48, 19 February 2026
❗Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub
This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Learn more ▼
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 dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). This caused a significant supply shortage and corresponding price increase of DRAM in the consumer market.[1] Prices of other computer components, such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) have also increased, although at a lesser scale.[2][3][4]
DDR5-6000CL36MemoryPriceIncreasePCPartPicker.png)
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.[5]
Causes of the shortage
On October 1st 2025, OpenAI signed deals with major memory manufacturers to secure 40% of global RAM production.[6] 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.[7]
Corporate response
Micron
- Main article: Exit of Crucial from consumer business
Micron has exited the consumer RAM market to focus resources toward manufacturing RAM to supply AI data centers.[8]
Samsung
Samsung has promised to continue selling SSDs despite rumors that it had plans to leave the consumer market.[9]
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.[10]
- Consumers resorting to buying DDR4 [11], and even DDR3, to avoid higher prices.[12][13]
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[14], and increasingly by making several YouTube videos stating how this will impact the future of home computing. [15][16]
References
- ↑ Ehrhardt, Michelle (2025-12-10). "Why RAM Prices Are Going Way, Way Up (and Why You Should Care)". Lifehacker. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Garreffa, Anthony (2025-12-27). "AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards will be more expensive in early 2026 because of DRAM crisis". TweakTown. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Munnawer, Amna (2026-02-12). "Why SSDs Are Getting More Expensive In 2026?". Direct Macro. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Nasir, Hassam (2026-02-17). "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". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Crider, Michael (2026-02-10). "Report: Desperate PC manufacturers are turning to China for RAM". PC World. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
- ↑ Shilov, Anton (2025-10-01). "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". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
- ↑ Murphy, Darragh (2026-01-14). "'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'". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Kumar, Satya; Plungy, Mark (2025-12-03). "Micron Announces Exit from Crucial Consumer Business". Micron. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
- ↑ Batt, Simon (2025-12-15). "No, we're not backing out of the consumer SSD market, says Samsung". XDA Developers. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Bring your own RAM, we'll build you a complete PC". Maingear. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
- ↑ Murtaza, Fawad (2026-01-22). "AMD Zen 3 AM4 CPU prices surge as customers flock to desktop processors with DDR4 support". NotebookCheck. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Yee, Alainia (2026-01-23). "Surprise! DDR3 isn't dead—and it might be the budget PC gaming answer you need". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Kinghorn, Jess (2026-01-14). "Seeing the absolute state of memory pricing, Chinese DIY community opts for DDR3 motherboards instead". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Corden, Jez (2026-01-13). "Jeff Bezos said the quiet part out loud — hopes that you'll give up your PC to rent one from the cloud". Windows Central. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ MonkeyExplains (2026-01-18). "RAM Prices Are Worse Then You Think". Youtube. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Gamers Nexus (2025-12-05). "WTF Just Happened?". Youtube. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)