DRAM Prices Explode 401% as One Kilogram Now Costs as Much as 620 Grams of 24K Gold
DRAM prices have increased 401%, with one kilogram now equaling the cost of 620 grams of 24K gold. AI data centers are consuming the available supply, driving costs higher for PC builders and retail consumers. A 64GB RAM kit currently costs $1,118. Retailers like Best Buy have raised computer prices in response to the chip shortage. While DDR5 prices reached a record high in August 2026, the spot market remains in crisis as demand continues to outpace production.
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- ✓ DRAM prices have increased 401%.
- ✓ AI data centers are reducing the supply of memory chips available for other uses.
- ✓ Memory chip shortages have increased computer prices at retailers including Best Buy.
- ✓ DDR5 RAM prices reached a record high in August 2026.
What changed
DDR5 RAM prices hit a new record high in August 2026.
Live updates
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DRAM Prices Surge 401% Amid AI Data Center Demand
DRAM prices have increased 401%, with one kilogram now equaling the cost of 620 grams of 24K gold. AI data centers are consuming the available supply, driving costs higher for PC builders and retail consumers. A 64GB RAM kit currently costs $1,118. Retailers like Best Buy have raised computer prices in response to the chip shortage. While DDR5 prices reached a record high in August 2026, the spot market remains in crisis as demand continues to outpace production.
Why it matters
The surge is driven by the massive memory requirements of AI infrastructure. This shift redirects supply away from consumer hardware toward enterprise data centers. Persistent shortages are expected to impact hardware affordability through 2027.
What is confirmed
- DRAM prices have increased 401%.
- AI data centers are reducing the supply of memory chips available for other uses.
- Memory chip shortages have increased computer prices at retailers including Best Buy.
- DDR5 RAM prices reached a record high in August 2026.
Still unconfirmed
- The memory shortage will worsen in 2027.
What to watch next
- September spot market price data to verify Bank of America projections
- Production capacity announcements from major memory chip manufacturers
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (7)
- Wccftech — DRAM Prices Explode 401% as One Kilogram Now Costs as Much as 620 Grams of 24K Gold
- Seeking Alpha — The Memory Shortage Gets Worse In 2027 (NASDAQ:QQQ)
- Business Insider — How AI Data Centers Are Making Everything More Expensive
- Jefferson City News Tribune — Memory chip shortage drives up computer prices at Best Buy, other retailers
- Startup Fortune — A 64GB RAM Kit Now Costs $1,118 Because AI Datacenters Are Eating the Supply
- finance.biggo.com — Memory Chip Spot Market in Crisis; Bank of America Sees Prices Rising Another 20% in September
- gamerant.com — RAM Prices Officially Reach Yet Another New High
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