I'm pretty sure it was around $30 for an 8gb ddr4 laptop ram on pbtech last year. Just checked again and it's $136?
What happened to the RAM prices?
xsolider on 23/01/2026 - 15:00
Comments
RAMpocalypse :-(
Marketplace and waiting for someone who doesn't realize is the way to go for now. Wish I'd upgraded both of ours last year now as 8gb isn't going well I'm them.
Blame AI for it. It is infuriating I agree especially because I don't even use any of the AI services.
Not sure if serious question….
TLDR Answer - AI Data Centres.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/surging-memory-ch…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dzdndzlxqo
https://www.techradar.com/pro/good-news-ram-prices-seem-to-h…
https://www.mensjournal.com/news/ram-prices-will-surge-even-…
https://www.techradar.com/computing/memory/ram-price-crisis-…
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/10/micron-ai-memory-shortage-hb…
https://www.forbes.com/sites/timbajarin/2026/01/16/as-ai-eat…
https://www.theverge.com/news/839353/pc-ram-shortage-pricing…
or google/youtube "Ram prices"
Ram is expensive so AI can keep stealing peoples art and help pervs to remove womens clothing in photos.
Data centers have bought literally all of it from the 3 companies than can make chips. Ram supply is so tight that Samsung semi won't even sell ram to Samsung mobile.
RAM is so expensive, even fish and chip shops have resorted to selling Fish N' Ships as it's cheaper!
Micron is exiting the consumer market.
So annoying, went to upgrade one of the kids laptops, cost about $60 last year, about $225 for the same thing this year! Couldn't do it!
Bought a stick 2 years ago for an unbuilt system for $150. A year ago, same stick selling for only $95. Almost bought it but thought, yeah nahh it will get cheaper later. Today it's like $300 a stick WTF…
AI boom, RAM/SSDs/VRAM and even normal HDD's are going to be priced high for a long time due to extreme demand.