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Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

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Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#41
post #10

I have 96GB of 6000 MT/s. Pcpartpicker says 64GB kits have quadrupled in price since August. So I'm almost surprised it's only 50%.

A year ago, Framework-branded memory for DIY laptops cost, IIRC, 2x Amazon for equivalent specs (not the same modules—the ADATA ones that Framework puts their stickers on are theoretically available retail but in practice complete unobtanium in most countries). Not Apple pricing, but they definitely have some margin to eat into.

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#42

Yikes, I hadn’t realized this was that big of a problem. The same exact G.skill z5 64Gb ram I bought 4 years ago is well on its way to being double the price. Does this have more to do with Crucial ending consumer product lines or tariffs?

It is because OpenAI bought 40% of the world’s production capacity overnight. RAM is like toilet paper during Covid now.

And also because Korean companies apparently fear US retribution if they start producing DDR4. I don't feel like "OpenAI bought half the supply" tells the entire story when the companies that used to produce DDR4 with the left over machines no longer dare to do so. Probably the prices wouldn't spike as they're doing right now if the ones who used to produce the older RAM generations actually continued doing so.

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#43

Yikes, I hadn’t realized this was that big of a problem. The same exact G.skill z5 64Gb ram I bought 4 years ago is well on its way to being double the price. Does this have more to do with Crucial ending consumer product lines or tariffs?

It is because OpenAI bought 40% of the world’s production capacity overnight. RAM is like toilet paper during Covid now.

The toilet paper thing didn't really happen though because there is so much shit people can produce at a time and the demand never increased if you scaled it to a 2 weeks period. There was enough stock in warehouses that 3 days later every store had a full stock again and the prices never increased.

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#44
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Crucial was shut down so they could focus on selling more ram to hyperscalers. That happened because of the state of things. Prices are not expected to recover until 2028.

The state of things...meaning AI companies buying up the world's supply of RAM

I think maybe long-term the effect of Korean companies no longer daring to reuse old machines to produce DDR4 because of US retribution is the bigger cause of that.

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#45
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Crucial was shut down so they could focus on selling more ram to hyperscalers. That happened because of the state of things. Prices are not expected to recover until 2028.

The state of things...meaning AI companies buying up the world's supply of RAM

Yes.

AI companies will continue to buy up all the RAM so you and I have to pay the cost for it.

They will also eat up all the energy so you and I have to pay more for energy.

They will also then try and put you and I out of a job.

And if they fail to do so, they will then get your and my tax dollars to bail them out.

There should be real AI research and technology development, but the way it’s being done right now is heads the AI hyperscalers win, tails, all of us lose.

It’s being run as a massive scam against the rest of us.

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#46
post #24

I assembled a new 32c/64t 7970X threadripper with 128GB DDR5 and a 16GB RX9070XT over the summer... This memory situation has me pondering putting it all up on ebay

I started thinking about it last spring, been slowly finding the ideal setup over time. Finally bit the bullet just like 5 days ago, fearing it's about to become worse rather than better, but it hurt as much anyway :/

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is because OpenAI bought 40% of the world’s production capacity overnight. RAM is like toilet paper during Covid now.

The toilet paper thing didn't really happen though because there is so much shit people can produce at a time and the demand never increased if you scaled it to a 2 weeks period. There was enough stock in warehouses that 3 days later every store had a full stock again and the prices never increased.

True but office TP isn’t Charmin. So the demand for Scott would go down, but demand for northern quilted and Charmin would go up!

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#49
Altman should be jailed for this. Single-handedly crashing consumer spending in an entire sector of the economy. At the very least for the reason that that was supposed to happen _after_ they had the AI in hand to supplant majority white collar labor, not before.

Re: Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices by 50% for DIY Laptops

#50
post #23

At some point it's going to make sense to buy a computer without ram once the lack of ram pushes demand down for all other components. Maybe this won't last that long given the RAM shortage is apparently a corner attempt by Sam Altman.

From what I've read, he's tied up RAM manufacturers through 2029. That's a lot of quartely earnings reports for many firms in the economy where they watch consumer spend come to a screeching halt.
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