As DDR5 RAM prices reach outrageous levels, G.Skill has a message for frustrated consumers: Don’t blame us.
In a statement, the Taiwanese vendor subtly points the finger at AI data center demand and memory suppliers for causing price increases. “DRAM prices are experiencing significant industry-wide volatility, due to severe global supply constraints and shortages, driven by unprecedented high demand from the AI industry,” the company wrote.
G.Skill suggests that it’s at the mercy of the three main DRAM suppliers—Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix. US-based Micron recently shut down its consumer memory business, Crucial, to chase the AI demand.
“G.Skill pricing reflects industry-wide component cost increases from IC [integrated circuit] suppliers and is subject to change without notice based on market conditions,” the vendor added. “Purchasers should be mindful of the pricing before purchasing.”
It’s rare for vendors to address price increases. However, it appears that G.Skill felt compelled to respond as prices for its DDR5 RAM products for PCs have surged by over 200%. For example, a 32GB pack of DDR5 now retails for $499 on Amazon, up from $138 in April.
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On a Wednesday earnings call, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra indicated that the supply problems will persist beyond 2026. In addition, the company will still be unable to fulfill all customer demand, despite retiring the Crucial brand. “In the medium term, we are only able to meet half to two-thirds of the demand from our several key customers,” Mehrotra said.
He also indicated that consumers might encounter lower memory configurations in PCs and smartphones due to the supply shortage, a concern that HP also mentioned last month.
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
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