RAM prices could drop by 42 percent this year, analysts claim

[Polycount]

After rising to outlandish prices some time ago, memory prices have finally dropped back down to relatively affordable levels. Once upon a time, you'd be shelling out upwards of $160 for a single 16GB DDR4 kit, but now, that same kit will only run you about $73 on Amazon.

That's already a pretty nice drop, but if a recent report from "leading" market research and analysis firm Gartner is anything to go by, we could see prices lower even further; significantly so, in fact.

The analyst says a "demand-driven oversupply" in the DRAM market could cause memory prices to go down by as much as 42.1 percent sometime in 2019. This drop is expected to last quite some time, too: Gartner says the excess stock might not get sold off until Q2 2020. Given that the PC industry as a whole has already seen plenty of price volatility, a reduction like that seems almost believable.

...a "demand-driven oversupply" in the DRAM market could cause memory prices to go down by as much as 42.1 percent sometime in 2019.

At any rate, Gartner also says worldwide semiconductor revenue will likely drop from $475 billion (2018 figures) to $429 billion this year, which is a decline of roughly 9.6 percent. The research firm mostly attributes this potential drop to the ongoing trade war between the US and China, a "weaker pricing environment" for memory and other chip types, as well as reduced growth in smartphone, server, and PC sales.

As exciting as this report is, it is just that: an analyst's report. It isn't a guarantee of future pricing, and market researchers, though they are often accurate, have been known to be wrong from time to time.

Still, lower prices are always good for consumers, so we hope Gartner's predictions will hold water in the coming months.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/81102-ram-prices-could-drop-42-percent-year-analysts.html

 

[Jeffrey2009]

I really doubt that the DRAM 16GB Kit price will drop from $73 by another 42.1% to $43. The 16GB Kit price will rise from current $78 (around) to $93 if the analyst meant the price dropping from $160 by 42.1%. In fact, those so called analysts and institutions often play this kind of word game.

 

[pcnthuziast]

Not. Happening.

 

[PEnnn]

We keep hearing those rumors..

Deja vu, aka, not happening.

 

[Manya3084]

Sure, DRAM chips themselves will drop...but the RGB technology is very high cost.
Just waiting on RGB ECC memory for servers to assist staff for OH&S purposes.

 

[cliffordcooley]

but the RGB technology is very high cost.

If you want RGB, then you should be willing to pay a premium. I for one just ripped out four LEDs in my mouse. Because I don't want them.

 

[Manya3084]

If you want RGB, then you should be willing to pay a premium. I for one just ripped out four LEDs in my mouse. Because I don't want them.

I was being sarcastic .
I'm saying that they will try keep the prices high, and offer less of the "budget" offerings.

 

[Eldritch]

Sure, DRAM chips themselves will drop...but the RGB technology is very high cost.
Just waiting on RGB ECC memory for servers to assist staff for OH&S purposes.

RGB technology.... I don't know where to even begin.

 

[Stormbreaker]

We would like an article that says that the price has already dropped. This is just speculation.

 

[grumblguts]

I almost purchased 64 gig of hyperx 3333 mhz cas 16 ddr4 memory last week on sale for 400 pounds.
now the sale ended I missed my opportunity.
Im not sure if I made a huge mistake not buying.
its haunting me.

 

[grumblguts]

This was under £200 for 32 gig last week
£400 for 64 gig.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GN5H9S5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&th=1

 

[QuantumPhysics]

I have 32GB of DDR4 in my computers. I see no need for any more than that - and most people would say I wasted money beyond 16GB DDR4.

RAM and SSD prices have been dropping nicely.

I'm more interested in SSD prices dropping.

 

[R00sT3R]

Bugger!

Just bought 32GB (2x16GB) of 3400 DDR4 for my new PC because I was determined not to get caught out with rising RAM prices like I did on my old rig and decided to buy enough of it whilst its (relatively) cheap so as not to have to worry about needing any more of the damn stuff over the 3-4yr period I intend to keep it...

 

[poohbear]

I really doubt that the DRAM 16GB Kit price will drop from $73 by another 42.1% to $43. The 16GB Kit price will rise from current $78 (around) to $93 if the analyst meant the price dropping from $160 by 42.1%. In fact, those so called analysts and institutions often play this kind of word game.

I paid $60 for 16GB of DDR3 RAM in 2012. If you told me back then that 16GB would be more than $73 nearly 8 years later I would've laughed in your face! 16GB should be going for $15-$25 by now!!!!

The 16GB DDR3 RAM is still sitting in my 4790K system. Before that it was paired with a 2500k. Best RAM purchase ever...but a sad statement on the stagnation (even regression!) in PC tech.

 

[Tgard]

I paid around $200 for 2 8gb sticks of DDR4 3200 about a year ago. Also paid for Samsung 970 PRO 512GB - NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 SSD $230. Things are a bit cheaper now but I had waited for years to upgrade my 2500k system and could wait no longer. You buy when you have to or when you need to and don't always get the best prices. I could have saved quite a bit later on but I needed a new system so that is what the prices were then. I have enjoyed my new Ryzen 7 system so not getting the savings has been tolerable. I was taught best rule of thumb is to buy the best system you can afford at the time and you won't go wrong. I do like to see these prices though. I would have gone with 32Gb instead of 16 with these prices and a bigger M.2 ssd. Ehh you do what you can or what you have to instead of always waiting for price drops or the latest tech. Well I do anyway.

 

[Dimitrios]

MAXIUM PC had an article when I was a kid about how expensive RAM was and it was RDRAM I believe. Weight for weight it was more expensive than coke.

Someone needs to do a nice history graph with RAM prices and it's evolution.

 

[Tom01]

I bought 32 GB Trident Z RGB CL17 for 500€.

 

[captaincranky]

MAXIUM PC had an article when I was a kid about how expensive RAM was and it was RDRAM I believe. Weight for weight it was more expensive than coke.

And what would a well respected Techspotter such as yourself know about the price of coke?

Someone needs to do a nice history graph with RAM prices and it's evolution.

While it's a bit off topic, the disc drive, (5 1/4" floppy !!) to match the Atari 1200 (or 800) computer was, (IIRC), $399.95.

I went into MicroCenter and picked up a 5 1/4" floppy drive, (just so I could say I have one), for somewhere between $5.00 & $10.00, a few years ago..

Actually, I thought I could install SATA drivers into XP with it. I should have known better, I'm way too lazy to go through that aggravation.[/QUOTE]

 

[Dimitrios]

And what would a well respected Techspotter such as yourself know about the price of coke?

While it's a bit off topic, the disc drive, (5 1/4" floppy !!) to match the Atari 1200 (or 800) computer was, (IIRC), $399.95.

I went into MicroCenter and picked up a 5 1/4" floppy drive, (just so I could say I have one), for somewhere between $5.00 & $10.00, a few years ago..

Actually, I thought I could install SATA drivers into XP with it. I should have known better, I'm way too lazy to go through that aggravation.

[/QUOTE]

They had a picture of coke and Ram next to each other touting Ram was crazy high. I gotta find that magazine. I have about 100-200 magazines collecting dust.

 

[Jeffrey2009]

I paid $60 for 16GB of DDR3 RAM in 2012. If you told me back then that 16GB would be more than $73 nearly 8 years later I would've laughed in your face! 16GB should be going for $15-$25 by now!!!!

The 16GB DDR3 RAM is still sitting in my 4790K system. Before that it was paired with a 2500k. Best RAM purchase ever...but a sad statement on the stagnation (even regression!) in PC tech.

The average 16GB(8GB*2) DDR3-1600 Kit is still around $58 now, from $40(inferior brands) to $86(such as evil Kingston).

 

[kmo911]

http://www.certexams.com/comptia/a+/cert-notes-aplus-memory.htm
gdpr link how about making a mb that support all ram modules from oldest sdram edoram ddr 1 2 3 4. a real RETRO MB.

 

[Markoni35]

Whenever "analysts" say something... the opposite will happen. If they say BTC will rise - it will drop. If they say it will drop - it will rise. Shouldn't call them "analysts" but "misinformers" or "cheaters".

BTW, isn't spreading misinformation in media punishable by law?

 

[Markoni35]

I almost purchased 64 gig of hyperx 3333 mhz cas 16 ddr4 memory last week on sale for 400 pounds.
now the sale ended I missed my opportunity.
Im not sure if I made a huge mistake not buying.
its haunting me.

You probably made a big mistake. But who knows, could be another sale opportunity next month. August is a slow month when it comes to sales, they have to lower the prices to attract the buyers.

 

[poohbear]

Whenever "analysts" say something... the opposite will happen. If they say BTC will rise - it will drop. If they say it will drop - it will rise. Shouldn't call them "analysts" but "misinformers" or "cheaters".

BTW, isn't spreading misinformation in media punishable by law?

Totally depends on the analyst, and especially what they're trying to achieve.

 

[takemaru]

I paid around $200 for 2 8gb sticks of DDR4 3200 about a year ago. Also paid for Samsung 970 PRO 512GB - NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 SSD $230. Things are a bit cheaper now but I had waited for years to upgrade my 2500k system and could wait no longer. You buy when you have to or when you need to and don't always get the best prices. I could have saved quite a bit later on but I needed a new system so that is what the prices were then. I have enjoyed my new Ryzen 7 system so not getting the savings has been tolerable. I was taught best rule of thumb is to buy the best system you can afford at the time and you won't go wrong. I do like to see these prices though. I would have gone with 32Gb instead of 16 with these prices and a bigger M.2 ssd. Ehh you do what you can or what you have to instead of always waiting for price drops or the latest tech. Well I do anyway.

If you upgrade to Zen2, you could buy & install 2 more memory modules, and overclock them to 3600 Mhz for great justice. The Zen2 IMC likes them ranks! AHOC (Buildzoid) recently made a video about RAM overclocking on the new AMD CPU.