The warning had been on the table for months, but many users still believed it wouldn’t be that serious. However, it is now a reality: RAM and DRAM modules have become significantly more expensive, and Samsung — the world’s largest memory manufacturer — has just confirmed the new scenario with price increases ranging from 30% to 60%.
The impact won’t be limited to PC enthusiasts. It will affect desktops, laptops, and, especially, data centers that power the current wave of artificial intelligence. No one is spared: from individuals looking to upgrade their home systems to major cloud service providers.
From Warnings to Reality: RAM Prices Skyrocket
For much of 2024, signs of an upcoming cycle shift were already evident. Memory manufacturers warned that prices had been at very low levels after years of controlled pricing and excess supply. At the same time, demand for DRAM chips for AI, servers, and cloud services continued to grow.
Now, the results are clear in stores: 16 GB DDR5 RAM modules that not long ago could be found for well under €60 are now around €100 or more. What was a good opportunity in 2023 and early 2024 to build or upgrade a PC has become an uncomfortable moment for latecomers to the cycle.
The situation is even more tense in the professional sphere. Modules designed for servers and data centers, with higher capacity and reliability requirements, are experiencing the sharpest increases. And that’s exactly where Samsung has decided to take action.
Samsung Joins the Price Hike… and Sets the Tone for the Industry
Until now, companies like SK Hynix and various U.S. manufacturers had already implemented significant wholesale price increases. Samsung, however, had held out a bit longer, delaying the rise.
This window has now closed. The South Korean company has informed its clients of a price increase of between 30% and 60%, focused mainly on DRAM chips for servers and data centers, but with a ripple effect across the entire memory value chain.
It’s no small detail that Samsung is doing this: it’s the global leader in DRAM production. When the largest market player decides to raise prices, the rest of the industry reorients around that new benchmark. What was already an upward trend now establishes a new floor price.
From AI Chips to Consumers’ Wallets
The main driver behind this increase is clear: generative artificial intelligence and the training of large-scale models. Each AI server requires enormous amounts of memory, both HBM (for GPUs) and high-capacity DDR5 for the rest of the system.
The consequence is straightforward: a significant portion of DRAM production is being diverted toward large AI-focused data centers, leaving less room for the traditional PC and server markets.
The economic logic is clear. If there’s an almost insatiable demand from major AI platforms — willing to pay a premium to secure capacity — memory becomes a scarce resource. This tension affects the entire product range, including modules installed in gaming PCs, workstations, or mid-to-high-end laptops.
How Much Have Prices Really Increased?
Beyond abstract percentages, real figures help illustrate the scope of the problem. In the server and data center segment, concrete examples include:
- 32 GB DDR5 modules have risen from about $149 in September to around $239.
- 16 GB and 128 GB DDR5 modules have increased by nearly 50%, now priced around $135 and $1,194 respectively.
- 64 GB and 96 GB DDR5 modules are, relatively speaking, the “least affected,” with increases of roughly 30%.
In the consumer market, the picture varies by region, memory manufacturer, and final assembler, but the overall feeling is similar: kits that a year ago were heavily discounted now have much higher prices, and DDR5 RAM bargains have almost disappeared.
Impulse Buying and Fear of Shortages
As is often the case in the upward cycle of component markets, the announcement of sharp price hikes has triggered additional effects: early purchases by integrators, companies, and some advanced users who fear prices will keep rising or specific models will run out.
This behavior — almost like preemptive stockpiling — only tightens the supply chain further. When big buyers purchase more than needed in the short term, available stock for the rest of the market decreases, reducing the likelihood of prices correcting downward.
Meanwhile, some data center infrastructure managers consider the new prices “extreme,” especially in environments where total cost of ownership is already high due to GPU costs, energy consumption, and specialized cooling.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy RAM or Upgrade Servers?
The short answer, for both consumers and many companies, is uncomfortable: no, unless strictly necessary. For PC and laptop users, those who can continue using their current setup might consider postponing RAM upgrades until the market stabilizes or new memory generations appear, easing pressure on current supplies.
On the professional side, it’s more complicated. Many data center upgrade projects and new AI deployment plans are already underway and cannot wait indefinitely. In these cases, the strategy should focus on prioritizing workloads, optimizing resource use, and negotiating medium-term supply contracts that offer some predictability—even at higher prices.
What’s clear is that the era of cheap memory we experienced in recent years is over, at least for now and in the medium term.
A Cyclical Market… But Now with AI as a Structural Factor
Memory industry cycles are well known: periods of oversupply and falling prices are followed by production adjustments and price rebounds. The novelty of this cycle is that artificial intelligence has become a structural demand driver for DRAM at scale, not just a passing trend.
This means that even when the market rebalances, the “floor” of prices is likely to be higher than in previous cycles. Production capacity cannot be ramped up overnight, and building new semiconductor factories takes years and billions in investment.
In the meantime, users will have to live with more expensive RAM modules and plan more strategically for upgrades or new purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Samsung’s RAM Price Hike
Why are DDR5 memory prices rising so much in 2025?
The main reasons are twofold: first, a typical cyclical upswing following years of low prices; second, an unprecedented demand for DRAM from AI data centers. The combination of these factors has created a relative shortage, enabling leading manufacturers like Samsung to implement increases of 30% to 60% within just a few months.
How does Samsung’s price hike affect gaming PC and home computer users?
Though the sharpest increases are concentrated in modules for servers and data centers, the impact extends throughout the entire range. Gaming and desktop PC users now see 16 GB or 32 GB DDR5 kits costing significantly more than a year ago, and aggressive discounts have practically disappeared. Building a new PC or expanding existing memory now costs considerably more.
Is it a good idea to buy RAM now or wait?
If your system is working fine and the upgrade isn’t critical, it’s best to wait. The market is currently in a surge phase, with prices reflecting maximum supply-demand tension. Only if you have an urgent professional project, or find a deal that matches your real needs, should you consider buying now.
What can companies do to mitigate the impact of rising memory costs in data centers and AI infrastructure?
Organizations can take several actions: optimize memory usage in workloads (e.g., tuning databases or containers), prioritize critical projects, negotiate medium-term supply contracts, and consider hybrid or cloud alternatives for more flexible scaling. Also, planning capacity needs well in advance can help avoid last-minute purchases during peak pricing periods.