Scientist says RAM pricing has reverted to normalized 2007 levels

Software performance expert Daniel Lemire recently noted that memory prices have risen to levels last seen in 2007 due to surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) driven by the AI boom—a phenome... Read original →

Memory prices have reverted to 2007 levels due to an unprecedented surge in demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), driven by the AI boom—a reversal of two decades of declining costs. This shift exerts cascading effects across the semiconductor ecosystem: advanced nodes like 3nm and EUV are strained by AI server and GPU demand, leading to HBM shortages and elevated pricing. DDR5 cost increases directly impact consumer electronics, automotive systems, and other end markets. Supply chain constraints, particularly in Taiwan and South Korea, are intensifying, while Chinese manufacturers like CXMT and Apacer offer cheaper alternatives but struggle to displace established players such as Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix. Geopolitical tensions further complicate compliance and supply chain resilience. Major players are ramping up production to secure market share, but the AI-driven demand surge is likely to sustain elevated memory prices for the next 12–24 months, slowing technological iteration and pushing the industry into a high-investment, high-return phase.