I've been checking out the price tracker for DDR4 RAM on PCPartPicker, and I'm seeing some absurd figures—like in the thousands for many options! Can anyone explain what's happening with these prices?
5 Answers
I recommend looking for open box deals on platforms like eBay. I snagged a decent HP Omnidesk with an i5 14400 and 16GB of DDR5 for just $300. Sometimes it pays to be a bit creative and scavenge parts.
DDR4 is being phased out, which is causing prices to rise. There's also a global RAM shortage because tech companies are stockpiling RAM for AI projects, making it even harder to find at reasonable prices.
It's mainly due to the AI boom—data centers are hoarding RAM because they can't get DDR5. This increased demand for DDR4, combined with a decrease in supply, is driving prices up.
You can still find good deals on Amazon. I saw 32GB of DDR4 going for around $300 CAD, which isn't too bad compared to the crazy prices elsewhere.
Anyone want to buy my old DDR4 3600 CL14 kit for 2k? That's still a good deal considering some kits are priced at 2.5k and are only CL18! 😂
That sounds like a great deal! I might need to start checking eBay more often.