Wednesday, April 3rd 2019

PC Memory Prices in Free Fall, Time to Upgrade

Prices of PC DDR4 memory modules are normalizing to 3-year lows as the pre-Summer PC upgrade season looms and several AAA game launches line up. 8 GB (2x 4 GB) dual-channel DDR4 memory kits have dropped to around USD $50 on popular PC component retailers such as Newegg, 16 GB (2x 8 GB) kits can be had for $80 at DDR4-2667 speeds. Premium 16 GB dual-channel kits (DDR4-3200 and above) start at $99. Premium 16 GB kits with RGB embellishments now typically start at $120.

Perhaps the biggest news from these memory price drops come in the form of capacity. 32 GB dual-channel (2x 16 GB) memory kits now start for as little as $144, for a kit with two dual-rank DDR4-2667 modules. Premium 32 GB kits, with RGB lighting and speeds as high as DDR4-3000 now start at $180. HEDT builders also have reason to cheer, as 32 GB quad-channel (4x 8 GB) kits start for as little as $150, and premium kits with DDR4-3000 frequency can be had for as little as $184. Newegg and the US aren't the only places you can find sharp drops in memory prices. Even across the big pond in Germany, we've been tracking significant drops in memory prices, with 16 GB dual-channel kits starting at 79€, premium 16 GB kits around 100€, 32 GB kits at 160€, and premium 32 GB kits around 190€.
Memory prices showed an upward trend since the start of 2017 as the industry witnessed DRAM shortages. Some companies such as Samsung even put out brazen statements that it favors memory prices remaining high as it lets them be profitable and offset losses from their NAND flash portfolio. Market regulators around the world, including the Chinese, found massive evidence of price-fixing among DRAM makers, threatening them with heavy fines and market-access denial. The DRAM industry showed early signs of buckling to pressure from regulators as they revised their Q1-2019 outlook to expect fall in revenue from DRAM, signalling drop in DRAM prices.
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63 Comments on PC Memory Prices in Free Fall, Time to Upgrade

#52
dhklopp


Some bargains to be had in 2016. Doubt I'll snag anything like this again.
Posted on Reply
#53
mcraygsx
Still pretty expensive!

I purchased Branded 3000Mhz @ 14-14-14-34 in early 2017 for $196.99. Today 3000@CL14 memory cost arm and length.

Price drop is good new for consumers who are building a PC right now but it could be better.

Posted on Reply
#54
Readlight
I hear america is in bankruptcy, stores closing, hipsters are starving like zombies after dopamine in skyscraper, concrete jungles. Everywhere narkomans and guns.
Posted on Reply
#55
Unregistered
ReadlightI hear america is in bankruptcy, stores closing, hipsters are starving like zombies after dopamine in skyscraper, concrete jungles. Everywhere narkomans and guns.

I hear america is in bankruptcy, stores closing, hipsters are starving like zombies after dopamine in skyscraper, concrete jungles. Everywhere narkomans and guns.
What!!!
#56
stimpy88
This article seems to be from a perspective of the American market. DRAM prices where I live have dropped about 10% so far in a year, so DRAM is still about double the price it should be.
The OPEC, sorry, DRAM cartel will have to come up with much, much better than 10% to get me to part with my money.

But I am worried a fire, chemical spill, fake chemical shortage, wrong kind of sand, flood, butterfly taking off in Germany etc will sort the DRAM cartels profit margin out sooner, rather than later.
Posted on Reply
#57
rwc123
stimpy88The OPEC, sorry, DRAM cartel will have to come up with much, much better than 10% to get me to part with my money.
Amen
ReadlightI hear america is in bankruptcy, stores closing, hipsters are starving like zombies after dopamine in skyscraper, concrete jungles. Everywhere narkomans and guns.
I should also inform you that the entire continental United States will soon fall into a giant pit of molten lava.
Posted on Reply
#58
Fx
trparkyToo bad CL14 RAM is still up there in price, sure you can get CL16 stuff pretty cheap but CL14 is a different story. This is especially so if you want DDR4-3200 (PC4-25600) 2x8GB kits.

For example... G.SKILL FlareX Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 (PC4-25600) F4-3200C14D-16GFX Still priced at $175.
I paid $236 for this exact kit last year in July. It is/was a known kit to be very compatible with ASUS Strix X470-F in addition to overclocking well so I didn't have any choice since I wanted the best.

It is still pricey at $185 right now
Posted on Reply
#59
Franzen4Real
fynxerUse dramexchange.com to predict when prices hit rock bottom, they can ahead of time reliably predict when prices are about to increase by watching supply and demand on the spot market.
Thanks for the tip, will have to check that out and keep an eye leading up to the Ryzen 3 launch. Always nice to see big price drops prior to planned builds.
ReadlightI hear america is in bankruptcy, stores closing, hipsters are starving like zombies after dopamine in skyscraper, concrete jungles. Everywhere narkomans and guns.
I liked that part.
Posted on Reply
#60
Vayra86
ReadlightI hear america is in bankruptcy, stores closing, hipsters are starving like zombies after dopamine in skyscraper, concrete jungles. Everywhere narkomans and guns.
You watch too much TV :D
Posted on Reply
#61
TheGuruStud
rwc123Amen


I should also inform you that the entire continental United States will soon fall into a giant pit of molten lava.
Don't get my hopes up!

Expect prices to skyrocket once Zen 2 ships. Desktop and server will have increased demand and production will be reduced for desktop lol
Posted on Reply
#63
Unregistered
thebluebumblebeeFor posterity:
I wish they would hurry and get back to that level
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