Memory prices are up 500% in the past year — because of AI
AI companies did deals last year to buy almost all the memory in the world. Memory prices in the US are now 5 to 10 times what they were just a year ago. [Tom’s Hardware] Gigabyte has launched a new PC motherboard that takes DDR-4, because DDR-5 is so hard to find. With a four-year old processor…
AI companies did deals last year to buy almost all the memory in the world. Memory prices in the US are now 5 to 10 times what they were just a year ago. [Tom’s Hardware] Gigabyte has launched a new PC motherboard that takes DDR-4, because DDR-5 is so hard to find. With a four-year old processor chip. [PC Gamer] Computer Base found German memory prices were up 350%. Hard disk and SSD prices had doubled. [Computer Base, in German] This doesn’t just mean the price goes up. Sometimes you just can’t get the memory. That’s particularly bad for system vendors, especially the large ones. Apple can’t keep the MacBook Air in stock: [Bloomberg, archive] Retail store sources say Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock and that shipments of new units are more constrained than they can ever recall. Apple already had trouble supplying the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio. Phone prices are going up too. The big three manufacturers, Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, expect that even if AI crashes tomorrow, the shortages won’t clear until well into 2028 or even 2030. You don’t just switch over a production line. [Apple Insider] Chinese memory company CXMT just had a rousing launch on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. CXMT has 9% of the memory market and probably 12% next year. Apple is seeking permission from the US Government to use CXMT’s chips. [WSJ, archive] CXMT might take a bit of pressure off the prices — but not soon. Keep your old stuff running. Video — PodcastSource: Pivot to AI — Published — Category: Business