Why are ram prices so high?

[Kevster]

Did the western world collapse or something cuz ram prices have more than doubled in six months. the 256 crucial 133 i got for 35 in the fall is now 85. what is with this, could the war against terrorism be to blame?

 

[Russ]

You think $85 for 256MB is high? What are you, new?

Russ, NCNE

 

[Maleficus]

you mean why are ram prices normal?

 

[RSI]

<< you mean why are ram prices normal? >>

Of course that's what he means, and in contrast to previous ram prices, they are very high.

 

[Kevster]

Yeah, i know they have been high in the past but considering i bought a 256 meg chip in june for 40 and one in october for the same i am wondering why they are so much higher to double in a year

 

[Viper GTS]

<< Yeah, i know they have been high in the past but considering i bought a 256 meg chip in june for 40 and one in october for the same i am wondering why they are so much higher to double in a year >>



It's called supply and demand.

The market was saturated. Now it's not.

Viper GTS

 

[XZeroII]

I think he is asking why RAM prices have gone up so much lately. I don't know.

 

[Johnnie]

i remember last Nov..ordering 2-Crucial 256M 2100 DDR for $65 and some change shipped

 

[Kevster]

I understand simple microeconomics but for something to double in price is just odd, don't take this like I am asking the meaning of life it was just a simple question.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Maybe because Taiwan sits so close to a faultline?

Just a thought.

-geoff

 

[Kevster]

Maybe, i know thats what happened a few years ago when they had a major earthquake and 128 megs of ram for my ibook shot up to 480, they just had an earthquake last week too

 

[Vic]

Last year, PC demand slackened and memory manufacturers had a glut of supply. As usual for this situation, the various manufacturers slashed prices in order to grab market share and put each other out-of-business. For a while late last year, memory was selling retail for less than half of what it costs to manufacture. In late Nov., Hynix became the first to throw up the white flag and they ceased memory production. Samsung and Micron agreed to cut production, the supply glut ended, and memory prices are now in line with the cost of production.
The only uncertainty right now is the fate of Hynix. If Micron buys them out, as they probably will, then Micron will become the largest mem producer in the world, with a firm control on supply, and prices will probably go up again. If Micron does not end up buying Hynix, which is possible because Hynix's many creditors are concerned about their already high losses, then the competition could begin anew.
It's extremely unlikely that we will see prices like last fall again, regardless of what happens.

 

[Kevster]

Thank you for the answer, makes sense

 

[yakko]

At least they did not shoot up like they did a few years back.

 

[pillage2001]

<< You think $85 for 256MB is high? What are you, new?

Russ, NCNE >>



LOL.