Meta unveils Vistara chip as SK Hynix warns RAM prices will stay high through 2030

Meta announced its proprietary Vistara ASIC, a CXL 2.0 Type‑3 bridge that connects legacy DDR4 modules from decommissioned servers to DDR5‑only platforms. The chip lets AI data centers reuse existing memory, potentially reducing the number of servers needed by up to 25% and lowering the cost of scaling infrastructure, though attached DDR4 memory operates with higher latency than local DDR5.

At the same time, SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh‑Jung said the market’s “RAMpocalypse” will not end before 2030. Prices for DDR memory and NAND‑based SSDs are expected to remain elevated because production cuts, a shift toward higher‑value HBM chips, booming AI demand, and geopolitical and logistical factors have tightened supply. The sustained price pressure also affects major device makers such as Apple, which is exploring alternative suppliers.

Both developments highlight growing cost pressures in the memory market and the push for technical solutions, like Meta’s Vistara, to mitigate the impact of persistently high RAM and storage prices on AI workloads.