Memory Prices Skyrocket: A Closer Look at the Surge and What’s Driving It

Memory prices seem to be on an unstoppable rise. TrendForce analysts forecast a growth of 105-110% compared to the previous quarter, while Micron has already announced an increase of 115-125%. Micron, one of the top three memory manufacturers, is the first of the trio to announce new prices. They will be 115-125% higher than last quarter’s prices. Samsung and Hynix have yet to announce their prices.

The trend of increasing shipments of server DRAM also continues. According to DRAMeXchange’s forecast, in 2026, server DRAM will account for 44-45% of the total production of such memory. Notably, Samsung’s and Micron’s share of server DRAM is expected to grow by 3 and 7 percentage points, respectively, compared to 2025. This means that memory production for the consumer segment will be further reduced. Meanwhile, AMD graphics cards are also set to increase in price even more soon.

Server Demand Driving Prices

The growing demand for server DRAM is largely driven by the expansion of cloud computing and data centers, particularly as AI technologies require more robust and larger memory banks. Samsung and Micron are strategically shifting focus to capitalize on this surge, which reshapes the market dynamics significantly.

Impact on the Consumer Market

The shift towards server DRAM production has implications for consumer memory availability and pricing. As manufacturers prioritize server demands, consumer DRAM prices are likely to remain elevated, squeezing budgets for PC and gaming enthusiasts. This is compounded by the expected price hikes for AMD graphics cards, which are responding to shifts in component costs and market demand.