PC DRAM prices rise for the seventh consecutive month amid rising AI demand

ChainCatcher report, according to Nikkei Asia on September 3, demand for AI servers from NVIDIA is accelerating the upward trend in semiconductor memory DRAM prices. Prices for general-purpose DRAM products used in devices such as personal computers rose 5% month-over-month, while products for industrial equipment saw double-digit increases. Memory manufacturers are prioritizing supply of AI server-specific memory, and this ripple effect is continuing to spread. DRAM, used not only in personal computers, cameras, and smartphones but also in AI servers and other data center equipment, serves as temporary data storage. Memory manufacturers, as sellers, negotiate bulk pricing monthly or quarterly with equipment and module manufacturers as buyers. The monthly bulk price for the 16Gb DDR5 specification, commonly used in PCs, gaming consoles, and servers, was set at approximately $40.20 in July, up 5% month-over-month. This marks the seventh consecutive month of price increases, with electronics distributors reporting that prices have reached an all-time high.