The rise of DDR4 Pricing

If you’ve been in the market for IT infrastructure upgrades in the past few months, then you’ve likely noticed the prices of DDR4 RAM skyrocketing. Unfortunately, this is not a short-term fluctuation or spike in the market, but the result of a global supply shift.

Why Have DDR4 Prices Dramatically Increased?

DDR4 is absolutely vital for many existing servers, computers and general IT infrastructures. This has been the case for a long time, but after years of steady pricing and availability, major manufacturers have significantly reduced production of DDR4. As time has passed, it has meant that stock has dried up, increasing the price of what is available. Additionally, there is a huge amount of individuals and businesses that are heavily reliant on systems built around this technology.

Why Not Just Upgrade to DDR5?

Upgrading to DDR5 is often not a simple case of replacement. To make the jump, it’s likely that the motherboards, processors and more will also need to be replaced, resulting in a time consuming, disruptive and expensive procedure that businesses are not ready to face.

Will DDR4 Prices Go Down?

It seems unlikely, at least not by any meaningful measure, and not any time soon. Supply is not going to bounce back, and with high and consistent demand the price looks more likely to keep increasing before it drops again. Demand may stabilise or drop off over time, but major reductions in prices are unlikely.

What Should You Do?

If your infrastructure is reliant on DDR4 and you don’t want to make the upgrade to DDR5, it’s best to act now. The longer you wait, the less available memory will become and the more expensive it will get. Essentially, waiting could result in a struggle or even a complete inability to source the hardware that you need, forcing you into a refresh that would have been unnecessary a month before. Stocking up on DDR4 for future maintenance can help to avoid downtime and unexpected expenses.

It’s also worth providing for any future builds or expansions by choosing DDR5 compatible hardware from now on. The higher initial price may be difficult to stomach, but it will be worthwhile in the long run thanks to future availability and better performance for modern workloads.

If you are looking for either DDR4 or DDR5 memory, reach out to our team today to guarantee a competitive price and fast, straightforward transactional process.