RAM prices going up, any idea??

[deltaforce]

Hello folks,

I would like to update RAM for all 3 laptops in the household and I noticed that the RAM prices are going up in last couple of months. Any idea what is going on and if the RAM prices will go down soon?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Phynaz]

Just look in all the other threads about this subject for answers to your questions.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The answer is, the prices have gone up, may continue to go up slightly, and will not likely come down anytime soon. You missed the low-price opportunity on DDR3.

I, on the other hand, stocked up. At least on desktop DDR3-1333. $30 for a 2x4GB kit sounded good to me.

 

[deltaforce]

@ Larry,

Is there any obvious reason, why you say that the prices will continue to go up? Like a couple of years ago, Thailand flood caused HDD prices to go up but I did not notice something similar or may be I missed it.

So your advice is, just bite the bullet and pay whatever the prices are at the moment..

 

[RU482]

There were only a handful of DRAM manufacturers...with enough cumulative capacity that they operated on razor thin (if not negative) margins. The price increases we are experiencing now are the result of one of them (Elpida) going tits up.

I know Micron acquired Elpida, so one would think the manufacturing capacity is still there. Not sure if it is operating at this point

 

[Cerb]

All the manufacturers cut production and distribution, to increase prices. The bottom pretty much fell out after Vista failed to drive PC sales, like prior Windows OSes did, and Elpida going under was as good of an excuse as any to try to fix it, after years of not having good opportunities to raise prices without risk of losing contracts because of it (if 1 raises prices, they lose sales, if all raise prices, prices just go up ).

It's DRAM maker market collusion, like normal, just out in the open, since they've gotten slapped over doing it underhandedly, in the past.

 

[Charlie98]

So your advice is, just bite the bullet and pay whatever the prices are at the moment..

Uhhhh, what other option do you have if you need RAM?

 

[deltaforce]

@ Charlie,
I am not in desperate need of RAM. All machines work just fine but have reached a 3-year mark now so thought of upgrading a few things. I can wait for few months more if it needs. Hence the question.

 

[Charlie98]

@ Charlie,
I am not in desperate need of RAM. All machines work just fine but have reached a 3-year mark now so thought of upgrading a few things. I can wait for few months more if it needs. Hence the question.

Check! I don't think in the short-term prices are going to come down significantly (for the reasons mentioned; ) I would just wait for a set to go on sale and pick it up when you can.