Thursday, June 26th 2025
DDR4 Module Prices Overtake DDR5 for the First Time
Usually for newer technology rollout, prices are significantly higher compared to the last-gen. However, with DRAM, the story is the opposite. For the first time since the launch of DDR5, buyers are paying more for DDR4 memory modules than for the newer standard. A combination of tariff uncertainty and rapidly depleting DDR4 inventories is the main driver behind this. TrendForce data show that some high-demand DDR4 kits rose by as much as 40% in just one week, while DRAMeXchange reports that the average spot price for a 16 Gb (1Gx16) DDR4 module at 3,200 MT/s from Samsung and SK Hynix climbed to $12.50, with peak offers hitting $24. By contrast, dual-8 Gb DDR5 kits running between 4,800 MT/s and 5,600 MT/s remain near $6 on average, rarely exceeding $9. This unexpected surge follows Micron's announcement that it will wind down DDR4 production by year's end, accelerating the depletion of existing stocks over the next six to nine months.
Samsung also announced plans earlier this spring to retire its DDR4 lines and shift its focus to DDR5 and high-bandwidth memory, while China's CXMT confirmed it will scale back its DDR4 output despite recently reaching peak production levels. Taiwan's Nanya Technology is among the biggest beneficiaries of this topsy-turvy market. In the first quarter, the company held a DDR4 inventory valued at approximately NT$37.6 billion ($1.2 billion). Nanya even paused public price quoting to manage sales at these elevated levels. Many in the tech industry worry that renewed US-China trade tensions could spark another wave of panic buying. If additional tariffs target China's remaining DDR4 supply, module costs could climb to more than three times the price of DDR5, extending this rare pricing inversion well into the next quarter.
Sources:
TrendForce on X, via Tom's Hardware
Samsung also announced plans earlier this spring to retire its DDR4 lines and shift its focus to DDR5 and high-bandwidth memory, while China's CXMT confirmed it will scale back its DDR4 output despite recently reaching peak production levels. Taiwan's Nanya Technology is among the biggest beneficiaries of this topsy-turvy market. In the first quarter, the company held a DDR4 inventory valued at approximately NT$37.6 billion ($1.2 billion). Nanya even paused public price quoting to manage sales at these elevated levels. Many in the tech industry worry that renewed US-China trade tensions could spark another wave of panic buying. If additional tariffs target China's remaining DDR4 supply, module costs could climb to more than three times the price of DDR5, extending this rare pricing inversion well into the next quarter.
17 Comments on DDR4 Module Prices Overtake DDR5 for the First Time
Well, this was true for about five years now. DDR5 launched all the way back in 2020, after all.
I think the reason this can seem surprising despite that is because of how long DDR3 remained plentiful after it was replaced. With DDR4 platforms still being incredibly common (probably even the majority?), it would have been easy to assume that DDR4 RAM would remain cheap and accessible for the coming many years. It seems that might not happen.
As an analogy, I noticed the 5700X3D has been starting to look like the 5800X3D. That is, its price has been going up so it's no longer the unanimous upgrade choice it used to be, even for those already on AM4. The best time to make that upgrade was last year when it was a little under 200 dollars/euros. I fear the same is about to happen with DDR4 RAM, so I'd suggest that if anyone has any DDR4 platforms they want to keep in use for many years ahead, they consider RAM upgrades sooner rather than later, especially for systems with 16 GB or less.
Memory was the most expensive part of my upgrade from AM4 (DDR4) to AM5 (DDR5), it costed more than my CPU and a little bit more than my mobo.
In a similar vein, when I upgraded from my previous DDR3 setup to my AM4 setup, memory costed as much as the CPU, and way more than the mobo.
And those examples are for regular non-ECC UDIMMs. New (L)RDIMMs are eye watering.The 5800x3D has pretty much disappeared in my local market (Brazil), with the 5700x3D taking its place both as the only AM4 x3D CPU available, as well as costing pretty much the same that the 5800x3D used to cost.
Given how the 5600x3D was a microcenter exclusive, I believe this outplacement of the 5700x3D is what caused AMD to launch the 5500x3D.
Well, they don't foresee the tariffs lasting that long and so won't bother.
Yes, I realize the prices of both ram & CPU's will vary from time to time, and that switching platforms can be fairly costly, but I don't see why or how a direct comparison between their price deltas are really relevant to the discussion of one or the other part.
Perhaps I'm just missing something ? :D
The reason I made the analogy here was because I felt like it could be a predictor of what may come for DDR4 RAM pricing.
Wish my DDR5 was as fun to play with as my DDR4 is.
not really, as the majority of it is for client builds, but just sayin....:roll:
So I am presently having sooooo much fun in knowing how much money I saved myself & my clients, which is "priceless"....
But.. If I did that I would have killed all the fun that AM4 has to offer. It is no fun with gross yucky sticks.
It's like GDDR7, it made no real impact what so ever to GPU speeds, with GDDR6 offering the same performance. The latency is just too high.
3200 is the fastest jedec ddr4
and
6400 is the fastest jedec ddr5............available so far
I'm not that long ago 64GB of 3200 ddr4 was much more as well.