(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
Are you planning a RAM upgrade? Unfortunately, DDR4 RAM prices are surging, which is bad news for those adding more memory to an older PC.
Research firm TrendForce warns that DDR4 RAM prices are overtaking DDR5 memory, which is used in newer PCs. Its data shows that a stick of 16GB DDR4 RAM can now reach $24, up from a mere $4.40 back in March. Meanwhile, a two-pack of 8GB DDR4 RAM can hit $17, an increase from $4.40 as well.
TrendForce’s data looks at pricing information that includes wholesale buying, so the cost appears to be lower than what actual retailers offer to consumers. I was fortunate enough to buy a pack of two 16GB DDR4 RAM sticks last month from Amazon for $51.99. It's now $64.99.
PCPartPicker also noticed price increases for DDR4 RAM in the last few weeks.
(Credit: PCPartPicker.com)DDR4 RAM was cheaper in early 2025 after Chinese manufacturers allegedly dumped their supplies at lower costs. Since then, manufacturers like Micron and Samsung have reportedly stopped production of DDR4 RAM, which has been around since 2011. The faster DDR5 began supplanting it in 2021 as the PC industry started using it in the latest motherboards.
TrendForce now says the tight supplies might prompt panic buying due to the Trump administration potentially tariffing foreign-made chips. "Looking ahead, the US could issue new tariffs or restrictions related to production capacity against China. This, in turn, may trigger another round of panic buying," it says.
Still, DDR4’s price hike is minor next to the GPU market, where prices have soared by hundreds of dollars as consumers blame supplier greed and Trump’s existing tariffs. In contrast, an extra $20 for RAM seems like a bargain.