If you were hoping for more encouraging signs around the ongoing RAM price crisis — especially after a few recent glimmers of stabilization — the latest developments are likely to be disappointing.
A new report from Counterpoint Research paints a bleak picture, revealing that memory prices have surged dramatically so far in Q1 2026. According to the firm, prices are nearly double what they were in the previous quarter.
In its February edition of the Memory Price Tracker, Counterpoint states: “Memory prices have risen by 80%–90% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026 so far, marking an unprecedented and record-breaking surge.”
While rising demand and costs for server memory are cited as the primary driver behind these increases, consumer-facing memory hasn’t been spared. RAM used in PCs and laptops has followed a very similar upward trajectory.
DDR4 laptop memory (SoDIMMs) has been hit particularly hard. Counterpoint notes that a single 8GB DDR4 module rose by 35% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025, with prices now projected to jump a further 91% in Q1 2026. Server RAM is expected to climb even higher, reaching an estimated 98% increase this quarter.
The situation isn’t limited to system memory. NAND flash used in storage devices is also set for a sharp rise, with prices forecast to increase by as much as 100% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026.
Analysis: a memory market under pressure
Counterpoint’s findings suggest that the entire memory market is facing steep price inflation — from PC RAM and server DRAM to high-end HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) used in AI workloads, as well as NAND flash for SSDs. As the firm bluntly summarizes, the market is experiencing “a full-throttle upward trend across all segments.”
Other analyst firms are echoing this warning. TrendForce, for example, is predicting DRAM prices could rise by around 50% — or even more — during Q1 2026.
Closer to the consumer end of the supply chain, PC manufacturers are also sounding the alarm. US-based custom gaming PC builder PowerGPU recently warned of imminent price increases, stating on X that it had received confirmation that SSD and other component prices had risen again, with system price hikes expected shortly.
While PowerGPU didn’t explicitly name RAM, it’s widely assumed to be among the affected components — potentially alongside GPUs, which are facing their own supply challenges due to ongoing shortages of video memory.
These warnings add to a growing list of similar statements from PC builders toward the end of 2025 and into the early months of 2026. Although there have been occasional positive signs — such as brief periods where DDR5 pricing appeared to stabilize — the broader outlook remains firmly negative.
Whether prices rise by 50% or surge closer to 100% this quarter, the consensus is clear: memory costs are set to climb further, impacting everything from standalone RAM purchases to complete PCs and even graphics cards.
To soften the blow, PC manufacturers may look for ways to offset rising costs. That could mean shipping laptops with lower memory configurations, such as a renewed emphasis on 8GB setups, or experimenting with alternative approaches like Maingear’s “Bring Your Own RAM” initiative.
Either way, for consumers and system builders alike, the RAM crisis shows little sign of easing in the near term.
