RAM prices have been climbing for two years and AI is the main reason. Hyperscalers like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta are buying server memory in volumes that dwarf normal consumer demand. When the big players hoover up supply, the rest of us pay more. Simple as that.

How long it lasts is harder to call. The AI buildout shows no signs of slowing and manufacturers aren't adding fab capacity overnight. A price drop driven by supply catching up isn't coming anytime soon.

The other scenario is worth watching though. A lot of current AI spending is running well ahead of actual revenue. If the returns don't come through, capex budgets get cut, server orders dry up and memory prices could fall hard. It has happened before. The crypto mining bust in 2018 sent GPU and RAM prices off a cliff within months.

Nobody knows if or when that happens. But if you can't wait, the difference between a bad deal and a decent one is still real. Use RAM-Mageddon's price per GB sorting to make sure you're not overpaying in a market that's already squeezing you.