The RAMpocalypse Continues: Why Memory Prices Won’t Drop Until 2028

If you have been hoping for a reprieve from the skyrocketing cost of components, we have some difficult news to share. According to the latest memory price forecast from TeamGroup CEO Chen Ching, the current hardware crisis is not just a temporary spike—it is a long-term structural shift. Investors and gamers alike are bracing for a reality where supply remains tight and prices remain elevated for years to come.

The Reality of the Persistent Memory Crisis

The situation in the semiconductor market has evolved from mere price gouging to a potential scarcity issue. Chen Ching noted during a recent earnings call that we are approaching a point where, for some products, even money cannot buy goods. While consumers are currently frustrated by high costs, the future could see a total lack of availability for retail components as manufacturers pivot their strategies toward more lucrative sectors.

• Increased Demand: Data centers and enterprise clients are soaking up the vast majority of available DRAM supply.
• Shift in Focus: TeamGroup has seen its business model flip; previously, the consumer market made up the bulk of sales, whereas now, two-thirds of their revenue comes from enterprise partnerships.
• Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Despite vendor relationships, securing raw inventory remains a costly and difficult battle for manufacturers.

Why Equilibrium is Years Away

The most sobering takeaway from the report is the projected timeline for recovery. When asked about a potential market correction, the TeamGroup CEO suggested that memory price forecast models do not show a return to supply-demand equilibrium until at least the second half of 2028. This means that instead of seeing prices fall, we should likely prepare for them to remain stagnant or continue their upward trajectory.

How can prices fall when there’s nothing left?

This rhetorical question from Chen highlights the severity of the situation. As manufacturers prioritize the data center and AI sectors—which offer significantly higher margins—the consumer market is left to fight over the scraps of the production run. For the average PC builder, this translates to a persistent premium on high-performance RAM and a market where discounts are increasingly rare.

What This Means for PC Builders

For those looking to upgrade their rigs, the practical impact of this crisis is clear. With major manufacturers like TeamGroup shifting their capacity to serve businesses, retail inventory is going to remain inconsistent. If you are planning a high-end build, you may want to account for premium pricing as the standard for the foreseeable future. The era of cheap, readily available memory kits appears to be on a hiatus that will last well into the latter half of the decade.

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