(Credit: Framework Computer)
In a distressing sign for PC buyers, the AI-driven memory shortage is forcing Framework Computer to raise prices again, weeks after the vendor rolled out an initial set of price hikes.
The upgradable laptop maker has posted new prices for its DDR5 RAM, which is now $780 for 64GB of memory, a major jump from $320 in November. The new pricing appears if you buy the DIY edition of the company’s laptops.
In addition, the San Francisco vendor also announced a second price increase for the Framework Desktop. The 32GB base model now starts at $1,209, up from $1,139 a month ago; it originally started at $1,099.
(Credit: Framework Computer)In some good news, Framework has been able to hold pricing for its pre-built laptops and storage modules, “but we do anticipate increases in the future,” CEO Nirav Patel wrote in a blog post.
The CEO further warned about future pricing for the Framework Desktop, writing, “costs from our suppliers are going to continue to increase over the next few months.” For the DDR RAM components, the company currently charges about $12 to $16 per GB, up from about $10 per GB back during the first December price hike. Prior to the shortage, it was about $5 per GB.
To provide more details, Patel also hosted a Q&A session on YouTube on Thursday, where he indicated the shortage could last for two years since increased memory chip die production might not catch up to the demand until late 2027 and into 2028.
In the meantime, Patel said: “The pricing just fluctuates massively from order to order based on who we’re ordering from, what they’ve got their hands on, and just what the time period is. So I think the practical ramification of this is that it is still going to take a few months for the industry to settle out.”
Raspberry Pi is another vendor that’s been forced to raise prices twice in the past months due to the memory shortage, which is due to new AI data center construction hogging chip production. The situation is so grave that research firm IDC warned “smaller brands may not survive,” especially since many consumers will probably delay purchases because of the inflated pricing.
Larger vendors such as Lenovo and HP have built up memory stockpiles. But even HP expects it’ll need to introduce price hikes and lower memory configurations to offset the shortage.