DRAM prices soar as manufacturers unveil high‑speed DDR5 solutions

Global DRAM markets are experiencing sharp price increases across legacy and newer memory types. Forecasts show DDR4 8‑Gb modules could rise by more than 50 % in Q3 2026, while server‑grade DRAM contracts are expected to climb 13‑18 % in the same period. The surge is driven by limited production capacity, heightened demand from AI data centers, and a shift of major manufacturers toward premium DDR5, HBM and LPDDR5X products.

In response to the shortage, several firms are introducing advanced DDR5 technologies. ASUS demonstrated Chinese‑made CXMT DDR5 kits reaching up to 8 400 MT/s on AM5 platforms, while Rambus announced a DDR5‑9600 RDIMM chipset aimed at AI‑intensive servers. JEDEC’s MR‑DIMM roadmap projects future DDR5 modules delivering up to 12 800 MT/s, approaching DDR6‑level bandwidth without changing socket designs. AMD also announced the limited re‑release of its Ryzen 7 4700LE processor, a DDR4‑compatible chip, to support systems constrained by DDR5 supply. These developments aim to alleviate bandwidth bottlenecks and provide alternatives as the industry copes with ongoing memory scarcity.