Why Is RAM So Expensive Right Now? The Shortage Explained

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If you’ve checked computer prices recently and felt something was off, you’re not wrong. One of the quietest but most important parts inside your laptop or PC has suddenly become really expensive. That part is RAM, and artificial intelligence is the reason it’s getting harder to buy at normal prices.

Quick refresher. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It’s the short-term memory your computer, phone, or laptop uses to run programmes and apps. More RAM means your device can handle more tasks at once without slowing down.

A simple way to think about it is this:

RAM is your desk. More desk space lets you work with more things at once. Less desk space means you’re constantly clearing things just to continue. When a device runs out of RAM, it slows down. That’s why phones, laptops, and PCs with more RAM feel faster and age better.

Why RAM Prices Are Rising

The current price surge is not caused by gamers or everyday users. It’s driven by AI data centres.

AI systems such as chatbots, image generators, and language models run on massive servers. These servers need a special kind of memory called High Bandwidth Memory, or HBM.

HBM is far more profitable. It’s used in Nvidia GPUs, AI CPUs, and the specialised chips powering ChatGPT, Claude, and every other AI service. Memory manufacturers make more money selling one wafer of HBM than several wafers of standard DDR memory.

Because of this, memory manufacturers have shifted a large part of their production away from consumer RAM and towards AI-focused memory.

That means fewer chips are being made for laptops, desktops, and phones. The situation has gotten absurd enough that tech enthusiasts are joking about RAM being more valuable than gold. And they’re not entirely wrong.

A 32GB DDR5 (Double Data Rate 5) module that cost RM630 in September now sits closer to RM1,000. Some 64GB kits have jumped from RM880 to RM2,700.

Who Makes the World’s Memory

Companies like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron control approximately 70-90% of global DRAM production. They’ve reallocated more than three times their wafer capacity to produce HBM for AI accelerators compared to conventional DDR4 and DDR5 RAM.

When these companies prioritise AI memory, consumer RAM supply tightens globally. This does not mean RAM has run out, but it does mean prices move up quickly when demand stays high.

How This Affects Everyday Devices

When RAM becomes more expensive, the impact spreads beyond PC builders. Laptop makers may delay upgrading entry-level models from 8GB to 16GB. Phone manufacturers may keep memory limits lower to control costs.

Upgrading an existing computer becomes harder to justify. As AI features push minimum memory requirements higher, the price pressure becomes even more noticeable.

Why This Won’t Be Fixed Quickly

Building new memory factories takes years and costs billions. Manufacturers are cautious because past oversupply crashes hurt them badly. AI memory offers long-term contracts and higher margins. Consumer RAM does not. That makes a fast return to cheap RAM unlikely.

Most industry outlooks expect tight supply conditions to continue into 2026, with gradual improvement only later if new capacity comes online.

If you’re planning to build or upgrade a PC, expect to pay significantly more for RAM than you would have six months ago. The same applies to laptops, smartphones, and any device with memory inside it.

Budget laptops that used to ship with 8GB of RAM might stick at that capacity longer because manufacturers can’t afford to include 16GB at competitive price points. Gaming PCs with 32GB configurations will cost noticeably more. Flagship smartphones might not see RAM upgrades in 2026 models.

For those who can wait, holding off on upgrades makes sense if your current system is still functional. For those who need to buy now, consider whether you absolutely need the highest capacity or if you can make do with less.

The used market might offer some relief, though prices there are rising too as people realise they’re sitting on appreciating assets.

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