Are they following Bitcoin's path? Memory chip prices surge, with warnings of a tenfold increase.

 

smart device manufacturing

Are they following Bitcoin's path? Memory chip prices surge, with warnings of a tenfold increase.

However, according to observers, the picture is more complex than just a shortage of supply.

From stability to price explosion

Price tracking data from PCPartPicker shows the magnitude of the shift that occurred in a short period.

Throughout most of 2025, DDR4 memory prices remained relatively stable, with a 32GB kit ranging in price from $70 to $90 depending on the speed and manufacturer.

But the situation changed drastically at the beginning of 2026, as 2x16GB DDR4 kits began exceeding the $150 mark, with some offers approaching or already exceeding $200.

The most shocking increase, however, affects large capacities.

Whereas 2x32GB DDR4 kits previously sold for between $120 and $150, their average prices have now jumped to between $350 and $400, with some offerings recording prices approaching $600.

Graphs that can no longer accommodate the numbers

The increases reached a point where some price tracking charts appeared compressed, as the recent jumps squeezed long periods of price stability into a small space, to make room for the sharp rise in recent days.

Although DDR5 prices are also seeing a significant increase, the pace appears to be less sharp so far, with kits that used to sell for around $150 now ranging between $250 and $300.

A radical change in the computer assembly budget

This new reality is redrawing the map of personal computer assembly costs, as memory is no longer a secondary element that can be ignored in the budget.

If this trend continues, RAM could become one of the most expensive computer components, competing with processors and graphics cards – a scenario that was hard to imagine just a year ago.

In contrast, not all memory components appear to be affected at the same pace, as NAND-based storage unit prices have shown relative stability so far, with questions remaining about whether this calm will last long.

With the rising demand for artificial intelligence and continued pressure on supply chains, the memory price crisis appears to have reached its peak yet.