By: ITP. net

A global surge in RAM prices is affecting consumers and businesses as surging demand from AI startups and major cloud providers creates a significant shortage. This demand, primarily for high-speed DDR5 and HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) to power large language models, is occurring alongside constrained manufacturing capacity and geopolitical supply chain pressures. This supply-demand mismatch is driving up costs for consumer electronics, from gaming PCs to laptops, and increasing capital expenditure for businesses building AI infrastructure.

Analysts predict that these elevated prices are likely to persist into 2026, as scaling memory fabrication is a slow, capital-intensive process. The scarcity is not just about quantity but quality, as AI workloads require denser, higher-performance modules, which commands a price premium. In response, the industry is adapting. Memory manufacturers and cloud providers are diversifying supply chains, investing in new fabrication plants, and optimizing AI software to reduce memory requirements. For consumers and businesses navigating the current market, the guidance is to avoid panic buying, carefully assess upgrade needs, and explore cloud or hybrid computing strategies that may offer cost-efficient alternatives.