DDR4 (and DDR5) RAM for your PC could soon become more expensive, according to a new forecast, and a little ahead of schedule.
If you’ve been following RAM prices (and we’ll apologize if you haven’t (just this once), then you’ll have seen that throughout this year, the price of DDR4 system memory has been steadily dropping to to the delight of consumers (DDR5, on the other hand, has already seen some increases, although it is still much more expensive by its very nature, like the latest standard).
However, according to a new report from analyst firm TrendForce (via Tom’s Hardware), the good times of price declines are about to come to an end, and we’ll see DDR4 go in another direction for the rest of this year. anus.
We’re told that DDR4 memory cards will increase in price during the last quarter of 2023, possibly to the tune of (up to) 5%. DDR5 will also continue to become more expensive with an expected increase of up to 8%.
TrendForce further predicts that graphics DRAM will see a price increase of up to 8%, which could mean that the best graphics cards and gaming laptops are also subject to upward price pressure. Bah, in a word.
Analysis: RAM manufacturers take steps to address excess inventory
Why is this happening? TrendForce notes that one of the main factors at play here is that Samsung is significantly cutting back on RAM production, in an effort to reduce the excess stock floating around (which has caused prices to be depressed through 2023).
That’s an issue in the RAM industry, and now that PC makers are hoarding more supply, trying to beat the aforementioned price increase, that’s obviously going to be a factor as well.
In short, the stock correction is in full swing, certainly for DDR5, and most likely for DDR4 as well, although we must keep in mind that a 5% increase is the worst case scenario. The lower end of the analyst firm’s estimate is that the DDR4 price remains static, but since reality will likely end up between those two estimates, we can expect an increase of about 3%. In theory, after all this is just a forecast.
The interesting thing here is that DDR4 increases weren’t predicted to happen until next year, and are now apparently imminent in Q4 2023. So now might be the right time to pull the trigger on a RAM purchase DDR4 if you want to buy. at the bottom of the market.
Depending on what happens with manufacturers being conservative with production, trying to reduce excess inventory that way, we may also see more impactful increases in the future.
