DRAM prices up to 10x amid AI-driven memory shortage

DDR5 memory prices have climbed as much as 500% over the past 12 months, with some configurations now up to 10 times the lowest prices ever recorded. A 128GB DDR5 kit now costs $3,399, driven largely by AI-related demand for memory chips.

Why it matters: Memory has joined GPUs and power as a bottleneck constraining AI infrastructure buildout, and rising RAM costs will also ripple into consumer PC and server prices well beyond the AI sector, similar to how the GPU shortage spilled into gaming hardware.