A technician in Austin walked into Micro Center last week to upgrade a workstation. The 16GB DDR4 module she needed six months ago for $32 now rang up at $74.99. The cashier shrugged: "Everyone's asking. We can't keep it in stock."
Standard DDR4 memory now costs two to three times what it did in mid-2025, with 16GB kits (2×8GB) ranging from $60 to $120 at major U.S. retailers.
Crucial DDR4-3200 modules sell for $94.99 at Newegg. G.SKILL TridentZ kits run $87.99 to $98.99 at Best Buy. Kingston modules start at $62.99 at Micro Center but show "limited stock" warnings. Multiple retailers cap purchases at two units per customer.
Why it matters: Artificial intelligence infrastructure is consuming memory manufacturing capacity faster than consumer supply lines can adapt, creating a direct conflict between data center buildout and PC component availability.
Generative AI models and enterprise servers require high-bandwidth memory (HBM specifically). When Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron shift fabrication lines toward AI-grade modules, consumer DDR4 and DDR5 production contracts.
TrendForce reports DRAM contract prices jumped 8–13% in Q4 2025, with the steepest increases tied to suppliers prioritizing server memory.
Reality check: Anyone building a PC, upgrading a workstation, or managing IT budgets now faces a choice: pay inflated prices, wait for uncertain relief, or pivot to alternatives.
IT managers postpone hardware refreshes. Gamers browse used modules on eBay and Amazon, where single 16GB DDR4 sticks list as low as $58.50—though with compatibility and warranty risks.
Small businesses extend equipment lifecycles rather than absorb 40–60% cost increases compared to early 2025. Home builders downgrade from 32GB to 16GB configurations or delay projects entirely.
The fine print: Micron recently announced it will exit the Crucial consumer business entirely, with plans to stop shipments after early 2026.
The company is shifting focus to enterprise and data-center customers, removing a major consumer supplier from U.S. shelves within months.
Meanwhile, DDR4 faces a second squeeze: suppliers announced end-of-life plans for some DDR4 production lines in mid-2025, betting DDR5 adoption would accelerate. It didn't.
DDR5 remains more expensive with limited performance gains for typical tasks, so users choose DDR4—even as production capacity shrinks.
What to watch: Production capacity announcements from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron through early 2026 for signals of relief.
The 2017–2018 memory shortage took roughly 18 months to stabilize after peak pricing. Current AI infrastructure buildout shows no sign of slowing, and geopolitical supply chain complications could extend timelines.
If DDR5 adoption accelerates faster than expected, DDR4 pressure may ease. If uptake remains slow, the squeeze intensifies.
The bottom line: Plan upgrades assuming current pricing represents the near-term baseline, not a temporary spike. Purchase limits and stock shortages indicate strain will persist into mid-2026.
