Ram pricing

[4K8KW10]

I bought 16GB of DDR4 in October 2014 for £213 for my X99 system when it was new and super pricey and then another 16GB for £65 in June 2016. Although the kits I bought has been phased out (HX424C12PB2K4/16) it appears the equivalent amount of RAM is costing almost just as much today.

Your first price is from 3 years ago.
Now, the cheapest 32GB 2x16GB kit that I can find is:

My basket at Overclockers UK:

• 1 x Team Group Vulcan T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C14 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (TLGD432G2= £239.99

Total: £248.69
(includes shipping: £8.70)



​

I think the problem with DDR4 pricing comes from the fact that for too long there is nothing superior, like DDR5 and manufacturers indeed tend to milk cows. Except that people can counter by simply ignoring purchasing and postponing to better times ahead.
Also, DDR4 has very wide spectrum of frequencies, it goes all the way from 2133 up to 4266+. Which is an insane range on its own.

 

[Doogles]

RAM pricing is nuts, it makes sitting on a DDR3 platform much more encouraging, if I had a 3770k I wouldn't even bother thinking about 8700k. I'm surprised AMD/Intel haven't done something about the pricing because it must put some people off upgrading from older platforms.

 

[LabR@t]

I want to upgrade but ram costs are putting me off slightly, I have fx8350 16gb, I always look to double up if I can do was looking at ryzen 1700 + 32gb but I know if I pay stupid money now it will drop like a rock, week after

 

[4K8KW10]

RAM pricing is nuts, it makes sitting on a DDR3 platform much more encouraging, if I had a 3770k I wouldn't even bother thinking about 8700k. I'm surprised AMD/Intel haven't done something about the pricing because it must put some people off upgrading from older platforms.

Looks like a cartel situation:

Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are seemingly setting output at a lower than required level so as to artificially inflate pricing due to low supply.

DRAM Output in 2018 Planned for Continued High Pricing - TrendForce
https://www.techpowerup.com/237970/dram-output-in-2018-planned-for-continued-high-pricing-trendforce
Original source: http://press.trendforce.com/press/20170920-2972.html

One interesting question in the comments section:

I do hope the EU and the FTC are johnny-on-the-spot with the antitrust fines this time around, perhaps we might nip this in the bud?

https://www.techpowerup.com/237970/dram-output-in-2018-planned-for-continued-high-pricing-trendforce

 

[southernorth]

Ram should have it's own exchange rate. It go's up and down all the time

It does http://www.dramexchange.com/

 

[P4Clock]

It does http://www.dramexchange.com/

 

[DarrenM343]

Despite the prices it's a struggle to get the ram I want that's actually in stock. I need/want to move to 32GB soon but regardless of price it seems difficult to get quad channel 32 GB @ > 3200 and without the LED rubbish.

 

[P4Clock]

Despite the prices it's a struggle to get the ram I want that's actually in stock. I need/want to move to 32GB soon but regardless of price it seems difficult to get quad channel 32 GB @ > 3200 and without the LED rubbish.

I do agree this led crap it getting a little out of hand.

 

[m4rmite]

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cors...hannel-kit-black-cmk16gx4m2b30-my-445-cs.html

What the hell? Last may it was around the 60 quid mark.
Cue brexit and the exchange rate bombing then it went to the £129 mark, sightly creeping to £139 over the months.
Now £188, has the memory factory doubled its workers wages? or is it a marketing plot to have a high price for 28 days so it can appear in a sale quoting a super saving?

 

[Journey]

Despite the prices it's a struggle to get the ram I want that's actually in stock. I need/want to move to 32GB soon but regardless of price it seems difficult to get quad channel 32 GB @ > 3200 and without the LED rubbish.

Plenty of dual channel kits around, just buy two of them.

 

[Simon Belmont]

Despite the prices it's a struggle to get the ram I want that's actually in stock. I need/want to move to 32GB soon but regardless of price it seems difficult to get quad channel 32 GB @ > 3200 and without the LED rubbish.

The led ram is very popular because you can customise ram colour with build theme.

 

[DarrenM343]

Plenty of dual channel kits around, just buy two of them.

didn't realise that could be done - assumed needed pack of matched quad channel memory for quad channel board for best performance?

 

[Journey]

didn't realise that could be done - assumed needed pack of matched quad channel memory for quad channel board for best performance?

99% of the time if you are buying it from the same place at the same time, the you'll minimise any chance of problems with regards to compatibility. If you were buying super high end RAM with crazy speeds, and very tight timings it might be better, but if it's just 3200MHz C14, then you'll be fine.

 

[henson0115]

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cors...hannel-kit-black-cmk16gx4m2b30-my-445-cs.html

What the hell? Last may it was around the 60 quid mark.
Cue brexit and the exchange rate bombing then it went to the £129 mark, sightly creeping to £139 over the months.
Now £188, has the memory factory doubled its workers wages? or is it a marketing plot to have a high price for 28 days so it can appear in a sale quoting a super saving?

its just retailer price gouging, doesn't help that people are actually buying and making excuses for it...

 

[hyperseven]

The led ram is very popular because you can customise ram colour with build theme.

For the windowless case that is hidden under a desk

 

[Simon Belmont]

For the windowless case that is hidden under a desk

Then no

 

[JasonM]

Memory pricing has always been unstable, I remember back in 1997 where memory spiked, that was due to Windows 95/98 and people suddenly requiring more memory.

The last memory I purchased was in Xmas 2012 and that was 32GB of Kingston 1600 brand new for £80!

 

[ubersonic]

1. DDR4 pricing too high. Availability too low, demand relatively high;

It's not really a supply/demand issue anymore just gouging, there was a factory fire which resulted in a DRAM shortage, that put prices up and they never came back down after supply was restored.

 

[Jono8]

I would really like 64gb if i upgrade next year for my DAW/music work so i am really hoping 64gb kits come down by then. At the moment they are just lol money. Even a good deal is ~£600!!

Wish i had bought some a few years ago when it was real cheap

 

[jaffveyda]

http://www.dw.com/en/chinas-tsinghua-to-build-30-billion-chip-factory/a-37205299

Not soon enough.