Computer memory prices have surged dramatically, effectively erasing approximately 20 years of cost reduction, according to researcher Daniel Lemire. Lemire, a scientist, developer, and software performance expert, noted on X that "On a historical basis, computer memory has been falling at an exponential rate for decades. But we just undid about 20 years of progress. RAM on a per unit basis is about as expensive as it was in 2007."
To contextualize these claims, a comparison of RAM kits from 2007 with current offerings reveals significant shifts in cost for consumers, particularly gamers. In 2007, a typical high-end gaming PC might have been equipped with 4GB of DDR2-800 RAM. At the time, deals for 4GB kits could be found for around $100, equating to approximately $25 per gigabyte. More common configurations, such as 2GB kits, were priced around $60, or $30 per gigabyte after rebates.
Today, the landscape for RAM pricing has changed significantly. While the price per gigabyte for reasonably-specced DDR5 memory hovers around $15–$16 per GB for both 16GB and 32GB kits. A decent 32GB (2x 16GB) DDR5 kit currently costs approximately $500.
Comparing the cost to build a gaming PC with a comparable amount of RAM reveals a stark contrast. In 2007, achieving 4GB of RAM cost between $65 and $100. Factoring in inflation, this would be roughly $100 to $160 today. Currently, to outfit a high-end gaming PC with a recommended 32GB of RAM, users must spend around $500, while a more modest 16GB configuration would still cost about $250. This represents a substantial increase in expenditure for essential system memory.
This price increase is attributed to the ongoing global memory shortage. Last year, prior to the crisis, 32GB of fast RAM could be purchased for approximately $100–$150. This price point was comparable to what 4GB of fast RAM cost in 2007. The current market conditions mean that consumers are now paying roughly four times more than they would have a year ago for a similar amount of memory. Lemire's assessment suggests that, from the perspective of end-consumer RAM kits, the progress made in reducing costs over two decades has been significantly reversed due to the current memory crisis.