RAM Shortage

The RAM shortage or RAM crisis started around the end of 2025 as a consequence of AI companies making deals with hardware manufacturers to produce and supply the AI companies with dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). This caused a significant supply shortage and corresponding price increase of DRAM in the consumer market.^[1] Prices of other computer components, such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) have also increased, although at a lesser scale.^[2][3][4]

With the release of ChatGPT, OpenAI became the leading pioneer of artificial intelligence. Seeing this, more companies wanted to develop their own AI models and build infrastructure to compete in the AI market. Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are the main RAM producers for consumers and corporations.^[5]

On October 1st 2025, OpenAI signed deals with major memory manufacturers to secure 40% of global RAM production.^[6] As of February 2026, RAM prices have tripled compared to October 2025. By late 2026, AI datacenters are expected to take 70% of all RAM usage. It is expected the RAM shortage could last until 2028.^[7]

The shortage is being further accelerated by hardware manufacturers such as Sony, Nintendo, Valve, and other companies with a vested interest in securing RAM for their devices. These include products like gaming consoles, smart TVs, and handheld systems. Many of these companies are already locking in exclusive deals to secure RAM supplies separate from the AI-related demand mentioned above. Earingcalls from Sony^[8] and Nintendo^[9] reveal this even before the Media will pick up on it.

The effects are already becoming visible in 2026, with higher prices for consumer hardware^[4]. Instead of absorbing these costs, companies are passing them on to customers. Their explanation typically points to market conditions, tariffs, and similar factors.

Main article: Micron retires Crucial products from consumer business

In December 2025, Micron announced and retired their consumer-targeted brand, Crucial, from the consumer market. This affected RAM memories and solid state disks (SSDs). Micron took this iniciative to supply AI data centers. After February 2026, shipments of Crucial products are no longer done. ^[10]

Samsung has promised to continue selling SSDs despite rumors that it had plans to leave the consumer market.^[11]

Price increases across consumer hardware are officially attributed to “market conditions.”^[12] However, based on statements made during earnings calls^[8], this does not appear to be the full explanation. The companies themselves report rising hardware sales and increased revenue, suggesting that the higher costs could have been absorbed without necessarily raising prices.

Although memory prices have increased, these companies had already planned ahead to mitigate such cost pressures without suffering significant financial drawbacks. As mentioned in earnings calls, preparations made between 2024 and 2026 were intended to offset these challenges, this can be seen on the basis of the operating income that was already adjusted for the 2026 forecast^[13]. Therefore, the decision to raise prices appears to be less about necessity and more about an opportunity to increase profitability, rather than relying on those earlier preparations to absorb the costs^[14].

The shortage of DRAM has already affected personal computing, with consequences like:

• Samsung and SK Hynix have increased RAM prices due to slowed production and less competition from Micron.
• The DRAM price increase has also increased the price to purchase a whole new computer, making computers a less accessible product for a regular consumer.
• Some manufacturers selling their computers without DRAM included. One notable example is Maingear, who has started their own BYO (bring your own) RAM program.^[15]
• Consumers resorting to buying DDR4 ^[16], and even DDR3, to avoid higher prices.^[17][18]
  

The RAM shortage has caused outrage amongst consumers, talking about how manufacturers are prioritizing the profits of the AI market and ignoring regular consumers. Lots of content on social media has been posted talking about the topic and its negative impact on personal computing, for example by highlighting the potential fulfillment of Jeff Bezos' desire for consumers to rent computing power from the cloud; taking away ownership^[19], and increasingly by making several YouTube videos stating how this will impact the future of home computing. ^[20][21]

Current market data suggests that many consumers are actively choosing not to purchase newer, higher priced graphics cards such as the RTX 50 series. The Steam Hardware & Software Survey^[22] shows that mainstream adoption continues to favor more affordable, mid-range GPUs, with models like the RTX 4060 overtaking the RTX 3060 as the most widely used. Even within the latest generation, the RTX 5070 leads over lower-tier alternatives, indicating selective upgrades rather than broad adoption.

At the same time, the continued dominance of GPUs with 8 GB of VRAM and the gradual transition toward 32 GB of system RAM suggest that consumers are prioritizing balanced, cost-effective upgrades over premium, high-priced hardware. This behavior indicates resistance to inflated pricing, with buyers opting to delay upgrades, stick to older models, or choose more reasonably priced options instead of adopting overpriced new releases.