DRAM prices rise as DDR4 costs exceed DDR5 in supply shortage

DRAM pricing just went feral, with DDR4 spiking past DDR5 and manufacturers quietly bracing to dump the pain on buyers.

DDR4 flips the script

• DDR4 spot prices jumped around 172 percent.
• DDR5 climbed roughly 76 percent.
• Older memory suddenly costs more.
• Shortages are driving panic buys.

Why prices feel fake right now

• Retail products still lag spot pricing.
• Manufacturers are eating losses temporarily.
• Long-term supply deals are harder to lock.
• This calm looks borrowed.

Suppliers tighten the screws

• SK hynix and Samsung favor short contracts.
• Spot premiums creep into negotiations.
• Buyers lose leverage fast.
• Planning turns into guesswork.

End products face reality

• GPU and RAM pricing will climb.
• Cost absorption is breaking down.
• Client systems get hit first.
• Budget builds lose viability.

Phones and PCs both suffer

• Smartphone BoM could rise up to 25 percent.
• Higher costs threaten shipment volumes.
• PCs already feel strained.
• Several rough quarters seem likely.