Wednesday, April 3rd 2019
PC Memory Prices in Free Fall, Time to Upgrade
Prices of PC DDR4 memory modules are normalizing to 3-year lows as the pre-Summer PC upgrade season looms and several AAA game launches line up. 8 GB (2x 4 GB) dual-channel DDR4 memory kits have dropped to around USD $50 on popular PC component retailers such as Newegg, 16 GB (2x 8 GB) kits can be had for $80 at DDR4-2667 speeds. Premium 16 GB dual-channel kits (DDR4-3200 and above) start at $99. Premium 16 GB kits with RGB embellishments now typically start at $120.
Perhaps the biggest news from these memory price drops come in the form of capacity. 32 GB dual-channel (2x 16 GB) memory kits now start for as little as $144, for a kit with two dual-rank DDR4-2667 modules. Premium 32 GB kits, with RGB lighting and speeds as high as DDR4-3000 now start at $180. HEDT builders also have reason to cheer, as 32 GB quad-channel (4x 8 GB) kits start for as little as $150, and premium kits with DDR4-3000 frequency can be had for as little as $184. Newegg and the US aren't the only places you can find sharp drops in memory prices. Even across the big pond in Germany, we've been tracking significant drops in memory prices, with 16 GB dual-channel kits starting at 79€, premium 16 GB kits around 100€, 32 GB kits at 160€, and premium 32 GB kits around 190€.
Memory prices showed an upward trend since the start of 2017 as the industry witnessed DRAM shortages. Some companies such as Samsung even put out brazen statements that it favors memory prices remaining high as it lets them be profitable and offset losses from their NAND flash portfolio. Market regulators around the world, including the Chinese, found massive evidence of price-fixing among DRAM makers, threatening them with heavy fines and market-access denial. The DRAM industry showed early signs of buckling to pressure from regulators as they revised their Q1-2019 outlook to expect fall in revenue from DRAM, signalling drop in DRAM prices.
Perhaps the biggest news from these memory price drops come in the form of capacity. 32 GB dual-channel (2x 16 GB) memory kits now start for as little as $144, for a kit with two dual-rank DDR4-2667 modules. Premium 32 GB kits, with RGB lighting and speeds as high as DDR4-3000 now start at $180. HEDT builders also have reason to cheer, as 32 GB quad-channel (4x 8 GB) kits start for as little as $150, and premium kits with DDR4-3000 frequency can be had for as little as $184. Newegg and the US aren't the only places you can find sharp drops in memory prices. Even across the big pond in Germany, we've been tracking significant drops in memory prices, with 16 GB dual-channel kits starting at 79€, premium 16 GB kits around 100€, 32 GB kits at 160€, and premium 32 GB kits around 190€.
63 Comments on PC Memory Prices in Free Fall, Time to Upgrade
I have 4x4GB ddr4 in my desktop(bought it in 2016) and thats still good enough.
Markets work the way they're supposed to. The thing is, going by the book, in an oligopoly situation they're not expected to work in favor of the consumer. The players will do exactly what DRAM have done time and again: agree not to upset each other.
That's why the regulator is supposed to either prevent the formation of an oligopoly (not possible in this case, because of the exorbitant cost of entry) or keep those players on a short leash.
Kingston Hyper X
2016 and easy OC. Over $140 right now for the same item. Definitely can still drop more.
For example... G.SKILL FlareX Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 (PC4-25600) F4-3200C14D-16GFX Still priced at $175.
Right now it's a good price for those and (Hopefully) get cheaper.