The rapidly escalating DRAM prices have caught the attention of the tech community, and G.Skill has offered insights into the phenomenon.
Memory Price Surge Driven by AI and Supply Issues
G.Skill, a leading memory manufacturer, has commented on the rising cost of DRAM, particularly DDR5, which has become the preferred choice for system RAM. Over the last two months, DRAM prices have skyrocketed to 3-4 times their previous rates globally. This surge has complicated the process of building PCs, with graphics cards expected to follow as another affected component due to memory shortages.
Q. Why has G.SKILL DRAM memory prices increased so much recently (since 2025 Q4)?
DRAM prices are experiencing significant industry-wide volatility, due to severe global supply constraints and shortages, driven by unprecedented high demand from the AI industry.
As a result, G.SKILL procurement and sourcing costs have substantially increased. G.SKILL pricing reflect industry-wide component cost increases from IC suppliers and is subject to change without notice based on market conditions.
Purchasers should be mindful of the pricing before purchasing. Thank you.
– G.Skill
Impacts and Recommendations from G.Skill
G.Skill has clarified that the price hike stems from severe global supply issues and increased demand for chips used in high-performance computing and servers. The DRAM market has been shaken by these developments as suppliers have been compelled to raise prices. Industry forecasts and analyst insights suggest that the elevated prices are likely to persist through 2026-2028, keeping the mainstream PC market in a state of flux. In some cases, the cost of a DDR5 RAM kit is nearing that of premium GPUs.
G.Skill attributes this surge to the increasing demands of AI workloads, leading to significantly higher procurement and sourcing expenses. As such, G.Skill advises buyers to be cautious about current pricing. While the price surge has been widely acknowledged, the primary concern remains the extent of the increase compared to previous months. Some experts predict stabilization within 6-8 months, but a return to previous price levels may take much longer.