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DRAM Price Shock Deepens as Samsung Shifts Strategy and GPU Vendors Flag Increases

Manufacturers are prioritizing AI memory to protect margins.

Overview

  • CounterPoint Research reports DRAM prices have risen about 50% in 2025 and could climb another roughly 50% by the second quarter of 2026.
  • TrendForce says DDR5 2Gbx8 die spot prices have jumped 307% since early September, with DDR4 1Gbx8 up 158%.
  • Samsung plans to expand general-purpose DRAM output and slow HBM expansion to maximize near-term profits, with 32GB DDR5 module contract prices rising from $149 in September to $239 in November.
  • Korean trade reporting indicates NVIDIA and AMD are evaluating pauses to entry and midrange GPU production due to sharply higher GDDR costs, a move not confirmed by the companies.
  • A PowerColor representative warned that graphics card prices will rise soon, citing about a 30% increase in GDDR6 costs as suppliers redirect capacity to server DDR5, HBM and AI products.