Why are RAM prices so high?
Checked onBecause AI servers are taking the memory first. Samsung, SK hynix and Micron, the companies that make the chips, report demand above supply and are putting their capacity into server memory and HBM, the stacked memory on AI accelerators.
On our record, the same 1,867 RAM kits on Newegg cost 12.5% more in total than on Sep 29, 2026. A memory maker's chip price is not the price of a finished kit, so the record below follows the same kits on Newegg.
What retail prices actually did
Of the same 1,666 products listed on Aug 3, 2026 and Oct 31, 2026, 892 cost more, 174 cost less and 600 were unchanged. Bought together, they cost 19.6% more on Oct 31, 2026.
This comparison uses the same products at both dates. It does not attribute every dollar of a shop price to a manufacturer's costs.
RAM retail price history
From Aug 3, 2026 to Oct 31, 2026, the daily median ranged from $14.37 to $17.81 per GB. The latest observed median is $17.73. It is 98% of the way from the lowest to the highest daily median in this window.
| Comparison | Cost more | Cost less | Unchanged | Same products together | Median change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 daysOct 22, 2026 to Oct 31, 2026 · 1,949 products | 205 | 143 | 1,601 | +0.3% | 0.0% |
| 32 daysSep 29, 2026 to Oct 31, 2026 · 1,867 products | 691 | 238 | 938 | +12.5% | 0.0% |
| Since the record beganAug 3, 2026 to Oct 31, 2026 · 1,666 products | 892 | 174 | 600 | +19.6% | +5.0% |
| Last 12 months | Not available: the retail record is shorter than a year. | ||||
What the manufacturers have said
- Memory chipsSamsung, SK hynix, MicronThe makers' statements below describe this step
- Kit makersTurn chips into modules and kits
- Newegg listingThe price you payOur daily record follows this step
Micron · Jun 24, 2026
Micron expects DRAM and NAND supply to remain tight beyond 2027. That is the manufacturer's outlook, not a date for a retail price cut.
Samsung · Jul 30, 2026
Samsung says server demand is keeping memory supply constrained, even with partial demand moderation in PCs and mobile.
SK hynix · Jul 29, 2026
SK hynix reported higher DRAM and NAND prices in its second quarter. Its chip prices are distinct from the price of a finished memory kit or SSD.
Micron · Jun 24, 2026
Micron says industry demand for DRAM and NAND continues to significantly exceed supply.
Samsung · Jul 30, 2026
Samsung says its memory business addressed AI demand with limited capacity and a primary focus on server products.
SK hynix · Jan 5, 2026
SK hynix says resources are being moved to HBM, the stacked memory on AI accelerators, and that this improves the supply-demand balance for ordinary DRAM. For the makers that means firmer prices, not cheaper kits.
Manufacturer statements describe their own business and outlook. Retail promotions, stock and the exact model can move differently.
Factory index: separate context
Category price index, not the price of a part
Semiconductor and related device manufacturing (PPI)
28.801Factory index level, September 2026
January 2017September 2026
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, public domain, PCU334413334413, latest month September 2026, checked 17 October 2026.
The BLS series is semiconductor and related device manufacturing (PPI), not the retail price of a RAM kit. Its match to this category is good. Monthly manufacturing-index table.