RAM prices have increased several times over the past year. According to German technology portal 3DCenter, the DDR5 memory price index in August 2026 was almost five times higher than in July 2025. One of the main reasons for this increase is the rapidly growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) servers.
Why is artificial intelligence driving up RAM prices?
On November 4, Reuters published an interview with Michael Heckmeier, CEO of semiconductor manufacturer Siltronic. He said that the expansion of AI data centers is changing the priorities of chip manufacturing, leaving less production capacity for conventional computers and phones.
AI systems require ultra-fast HBM memory and large amounts of server DRAM. As manufacturers allocate more capacity to more profitable data center orders, the supply of conventional DDR5 memory is shrinking and its prices are rising.
How much has DDR5 actually become more expensive?
According to data from the German technology portal 3DCenter, the DDR5 memory price index rose from 100 points in July 2025 to 486 points in August 2026. In September, it already reached 544 points - which means that the price level of the monitored DDR5 categories increased by 444% over the year and two months.
„Price data published by PC Games Hardware also allows us to assess the price increase of specific RAM kits. The price of Kingston FURY Beast 32GB (2 × 16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 rose from €114 in September 2025 to €523 in August 2026 - an increase of approximately 359%.
The situation is similar with the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB (2 × 16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 kit. During the same period, its price increased from €122 to €539, or approximately 342%. These are historical price comparisons for the German market, so prices in Lithuanian stores may differ. Furthermore, these figures do not reflect possible subsequent price changes after August 2026.
Will other computer components become more expensive?
The development of AI infrastructure affects not only the RAM market. Data centers also need large-capacity SSDs, processors, graphics accelerators and other components. However, their prices depend on different manufacturing technologies, supply and competition. Therefore, one should not assume that all computer components will increase in price at the same rate as DDR5 memory.
Is it worth buying RAM now?
There are no clear signs yet that demand from the AI sector will decline significantly in the near future. This means that pressure on the memory market may persist, but continued price growth is not guaranteed.
If you need RAM for a new computer now, it's worth looking for the best price-performance ratio. However, if you have enough memory, there's no need to rush just because of possible further price increases. Even if the overall price level rises, the prices of individual kits may decrease.
