Price Check Q3 2016: DRAM Prices Down Over 20% Since Early 2016
by Anton Shilov on July 25, 2016 12:01 AM ESTJEDEC and Near-JEDEC DDR4 Pricing
Traditionally, we have started our observations of DDR4 retail prices with Kingston’s HyperX Fury Black DDR4-2133/CL14 2x8 GB kit (HX421C14FBK2/16), which is a typical enthusiast-class memory module set used by both system integrators and DIYers. Let's start with them today as well.
Kingston’s HyperX Fury Black DDR4-2133/CL14 2x8 GB kit (HX421C14FBK2/16)
In late February, such kit used to cost $69.94 at Amazon (based on data from CamelCamelCamel, which tracks prices of various items at Amazon and its partners). Right now, the dual-channel set of DRAM modules is priced at $83.43 at Amazon and is absent from Newegg. This is a very recent price hike from around $67.
Given this rather unexpected price hike, it is highly likely that the kit is either in short supply at Amazon, or Kingston has ceased to produce this product and is readying a newer version. This sometimes happens when module manufacturers switch DRAM IC suppliers, or adopt newer chips. In any case, we decided to take a look at other affordable DDR4-2133 offerings.
G.Skill's Ripjaws V DDR4-2133/CL14 2x8 GB kit (F4-2133C15D-16GVR)
G.Skill is a supplier primarily known for its ultra-high-end DRAM modules with extreme frequencies. However, the company also sells a lot of mainstream products. For example, its Ripjaws V DDR4-2133/CL15 2x8 GB kit (F4-2133C15D-16GVR) costs $65.95 at Amazon and $57.99 at Newegg. According to PriceZombie, which tracks Newegg, the price of this kit has been declining for many months now, from the origianl launch price of $130 down to $58 today.
Crucial’s Ballistix Sport LT DDR4-2400/CL16 2x8 GB (BLS2K8G4D240FSB) kit
Another affordable DDR4 option is Crucial’s Ballistix Sport LT DDR4-2400/CL16 2x8 GB kit (BLS2K8G4D240FSB), which is available for $59.58 from Amazon. The kit used to cost over $100 just several months ago, but rapid declines of DDR4 costs and prices forced Crucial (and its owner Micron) to reduce the price of the product quite significantly.
In any case, it is now possible to get 16 GB of DDR4 memory for less than $65, which is impressive because just over a year ago such dual-channel kits used to cost well over $120.
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sonicmerlin - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
The title of the article incorrectly states "since 2015", when the text clearly states the 20% drop is from early 2016.Ian Cutress - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
That was a mistake on my part. Updated :)Mikuni - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
How can the fab cost so much? 12-13 billions? It would be interesting to see an article detailing the design and processes of such buildings, the machinery used etc.woggs - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
The tools installed are the money... These are a little dated but interesting...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeGqCl3YAaQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q_n4vdyZzc
mejobloggs - Tuesday, July 26, 2016 - link
Those videos are mind boggling, just trying to think how much technology involved in all thatAndrewJacksonZA - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
There's a typo on the headings on the first graph: "sopt" instead of "spot"anomalydesign - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
These findings of DDR4 prices continuing to go lower don't match with my personal experience. In ordering RAM in the past month I've come to accept that the prices are significantly higher than they were earlier in the year.After reading the article I though perhaps I was misremembering the prices, so I looked back through my order history at Newegg. I purchased multiple 16 and 32GB DDR4 kits from different brands back in April, and in each case the listed price on those kits was not only lower than the current price (by at least 10-25 percent), but they were well below the price of ANY comparable kit currently available.
So I don't know why the graphs and examples in this article don't line up with what I've experienced. I think perhaps looking at particular brands and models is part of the issue, as one that is priced at the entry level can move up, or vice versa. But unless there is a way to show prices not of a particular kit, but of the least expensive example of a given speed/capacity, I don't think these findings reflect the reality of the RAM market.
anomalydesign - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
One example, which has gone from $110 to 152 in the past few months: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...CaedenV - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
It could be that you have been scooping RAM up on sales and deals available at the time, and the chart prices are for the 'normal' or 'average' going price of the products.I know that for DDR3 I picked up 16GB for my home server last spring for ~$80, and then during prime day sale I picked up another 32GB for my desktop for $65. Just goes to show that charts only show part of the picture... But still, RAM is dirt cheap compared to a year or two ago!
JoeyJoJo123 - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
No, your experience here is correct; Anandtech's reporting is incorrect.See the price graph here of a common set of DDR4-2400 set of ram with no heatspreaders over time this year.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/kCL7YJ/gskill-mem...
Lowest RAM prices were around April~May this year, after that prices began to pick up, and today, prices sit about ~20% higher than their historical low around April~May. And this isn't the only set of RAM that had the same price swings...
See:
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tPVBD3/corsair-me...
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ydCrxr/gskill-mem...
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xxs8TW/gskill-mem...
Etc...