DDR5 memory prices surge 500% in 12 months, 128GB kit hits $3,399
Original: Memory prices climb 500% in 12 months
Why This Matters
The 500% price surge signals a fundamental supply-demand shift driven by AI infrastructure buildout competing with consumer DRAM production.
According to Tom's Hardware, DDR5 memory prices have climbed approximately 500% over the past 12 months, reaching up to 10 times the lowest prices ever tracked. A 128GB DDR5 kit now retails for $3,399, a dramatic reversal from recent historic lows.
Tom's Hardware reports that DDR5 RAM prices have surged roughly 500% over the past 12 months, with some configurations now priced at up to 10 times their all-time tracked lows. A 128GB DDR5 memory kit, which had previously fallen to historic low prices, now carries a retail price of $3,399. The sharp price increase marks a significant turnaround in the DRAM market, which had experienced prolonged oversupply and depressed pricing in prior years. The rise is consistent with broader memory market trends driven by surging demand for AI server infrastructure, HBM and high-capacity DRAM, which has diverted manufacturing capacity from consumer-grade DDR5. Major memory producers including Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have all benefited from tightening supply conditions. The magnitude of the increase — 500% in one year — underscores how rapidly the consumer RAM market can shift when enterprise and AI demand competes for the same foundry capacity.