RAM shortage on the horizon experts warn as prices rise sharply
After taking up almost the entire GPU market, generative AI and LLMs are now putting significant pressure on DRAM and other mainstream memory sectors. Recent reports indicate shortages and price hikes are imminent, and consumers will soon feel the squeeze.
Industry sources say system builders like ASUS and MSI are “aggressively” accumulating memory inventory. According to the Taiwanese newspaper DigiTimes, system integrators and hardware vendors are likely to keep overspending on memory through the fourth quarter, a trend that could lead the industry into another chip shortage extending into 2027.
DRAM prices have already risen sharply, and forecasts for 2026 are even more alarming. Major consumer tech companies are racing to build the largest stockpiles, while the data center sector is securing most of the world’s memory supply.
The cause of the commotion is believed to be increasing investments in AI data centers. These advanced facilities are consuming large amounts of high-performance memory, such as HBM and RDIMM, prompting major memory manufacturers to restructure parts of their operations.
Foundries are prioritizing their most profitable memory lines, sometimes shifting production that was initially for DRAM. Consequently, they have reported record revenues in recent months, making it one of the few areas where the AI boom has led to clear financial benefits for industry suppliers.
The current “memory crunch” is so severe that companies are adjusting their product launch schedules. Memory kits that were originally planned for the last quarter of 2025 have been pushed back to the following year. SK hynix recently announced that all its memory capacity – including DRAM, NAND Flash, and HBM – has already been fully booked through at least late 2026.
