DRAM Prices To Rise By 10 - 20 Percent

Unfortunately for PC gamers, recent statistics have effectively predicted an increase in DRAM price especially as we head into 2018. Through these statistics, a calculated 10 to 20 percent increase is expected in price. All the information comes from DRAMeXchange and their research. 

This year, the third quarter itself already say a 5 percent price increase individually, and the price increases are based on this. Again, retail cost will be proportional to capacity specifications, which might even lead beyond 20 percent. Yet, why is this happening? Well, the demand for DRAM is at an all-time high based on an increased need for more devices, especially phones which seem to need more RAM every year. For example, Apple buys around eighteen percent of the world's annual supply of NAND chips, a form of DRAM which they use in their smartphones. 

Obviously, the same goes for PC DRAM modules too. Here's what a researcher, Avril Wu, from the source had to comment: 

“Contracts with first-tier DRAM suppliers show that the prices of PC DRAM modules have now risen above US$30 and maintained around US$30.5 on average, amounting to a seven per cent hike from the third quarter. This price increase is mainly attributed to the influence of the booming mobile DRAM market, which is in turn fueled by the limited product supply and the releases of flagship smartphones during the traditional busy season of this year’s second half.”

The price increase looks to be overcome by new production lines at fresh factories, to be opened by the likes of Samsung and SK Hynix as examples. Hopefully things will return to normal mid-2018, which is when we expect it to flatten out. 

Silicon price increase has been reported by a Japanese Silicon wafer manufacturer responsible for a total of 60 percent of the world supply. The company plans to increase prices which will literally make everything to do with computing, more expensive. I don't think there's much we can do, and it isn't good news for consumers. Companies will either find new ways to cut down on price or products are going to be that much more expensive. 

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