RAM Shortage

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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 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 solid-state drives (SSDs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) have also increased in a lesser scale. ^{[citation needed]}

A screenshot of a graph from 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 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. Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are the main RAM producers for consumers and corporations.

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]}

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.

Samsung

Samsung has promised to continue selling SSDs

Consequences

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
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.
This also has caused some manufacturers to sell their computers without DRAM included.

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]