内容来源：https://lifehacker.com/tech/ram-prices-going-up?utm_medium=RSS

内容总结：

内存价格飙升波及全球电子产品市场，AI需求激增与产能转向成主因

近期，全球内存（RAM）市场价格出现罕见暴涨，已从以往电脑组装中的“平价部件”转变为需要精打细算的“高预算项目”。这一趋势正从DIY电脑市场蔓延至笔记本电脑、手机、平板乃至游戏主机等整机产品，预计将对普通消费者产生广泛影响。

价格涨幅惊人，百元内存时代终结
据市场追踪显示，主流内存条价格在数月内普遍翻倍，部分高端型号涨幅高达三至四倍。例如，一款32GB DDR5游戏内存在2025年8月售价约为110美元，目前已涨至360美元；64GB型号则从170美元飙升至640美元。行业数据显示，目前低于100美元的内存条已难寻觅，消费者往往需支付比年初高出两到三倍的价格。

AI需求挤压消费级产能，供应链结构性失衡
本轮涨价潮的核心驱动力来自人工智能（AI）产业的爆发式增长。全球主要内存制造商（如三星、SK海力士）已将产能重点转向利润更高的AI数据中心专用高带宽内存（HBM）。据报道，约40%的全球内存产量已投入单一AI超算项目。上周，另一巨头美光宣布将于2026年退出消费级内存市场，专注AI领域，进一步加剧市场紧张情绪。

行业分析师指出，内存供应商目前普遍将服务器客户视为优先级别，消费级产品已成为“次要考量”。这种供需失衡已导致终端产品成本上升：多家整机厂商（包括CyberPowerPC、Framework）已提价或发出涨价预警；树莓派（Raspberry Pi）近期也因内存成本上调其旗舰产品售价。

整机市场承压，消费者或将面临多重影响
尽管DIY市场首当其冲，但预装电子设备的消费者同样难以置身事外。戴尔首席运营官在财报会议中坦言“所有产品的成本基础都在上升”。为应对压力，部分厂商可能采取折中策略：联想正积极囤积内存以平衡2026年价格与供应；惠普则考虑限制设备内存配置或最终提价。行业研究机构IDC警告，为抵消内存成本，一些中低端设备还可能在其他组件（如电池、屏幕）上缩减规格。

价格何时回落仍不明朗，厂商扩产计划分化
业内对于价格回落时间表存在分歧。SK海力士计划投入5000亿美元扩建产能，新工厂预计2027年投产，并承诺不放弃消费级业务；但三星近期表示不会快速扩张设施，将优先维持“长期盈利能力”。有分析推测，内存高价态势可能持续至2028年。历史经验显示，若AI需求热度降温或产能大幅提升，价格才可能回归常态，但目前市场仍处于剧烈波动期。

给消费者的建议：按需决策，灵活应对
面对当前市场，消费者可考虑以下策略：

1. 转向整机采购：大型品牌商（如联想、苹果）目前仍通过供应链优势缓冲部分压力，整机涨价幅度或低于自行组装。
2. 合理控制配置：多数用户16GB内存已足够，不必盲目追求高配置。
3. 权衡购买时机：若近期刚需购机，建议在厂商全面提价前行动；若不急用，可观望至2026年后产能调整情况。

总体而言，内存涨价潮折射出AI产业对传统消费电子供应链的深刻冲击，且影响正持续扩散。消费者需根据自身需求审慎决策，并做好为各类电子产品支付更高费用的心理准备。

中文翻译：

RAM，即随机存取存储器（简称内存），已成为当今大多数电子设备的核心组件。它能让程序快速调用关键信息，无需反复从硬盘或固态硬盘中检索数据。无论是笔记本电脑、手机、平板、游戏主机甚至汽车，所有应用程序都或多或少依赖内存运行。

简而言之，只要设备搭载计算机系统，通常都会预装内存，否则可能无法正常启动。但这种依赖性近期引发了严峻问题。长期以来，内存本是电脑爱好者眼中性价比最高的部件之一，但过去几个月其价格急剧攀升，已从许多人预算中的次要项变成了需要攒钱购置的大件。

价格飙升背后存在多重因素，即便您不是硬核装机党或无需直接购买内存，长期来看仍可能受到影响。

价格为何暴涨？

与当前多数科技行业震荡类似，内存价格突然飙升的主因是人工智能。据科技媒体PCMag援引集邦咨询和韩国《朝鲜日报》的报道，自去年十月起内存价格开始波动，此后形势持续恶化。

行业分析师与内部人士指出，制造商正逐步将重心转向AI数据中心专用内存，三星和SK海力士尤其优先生产消费级产品不采用的高带宽内存。Tom's Hardware在十月的独立报道中证实，这些企业已将全球约40%的内存产能投入单个AI项目——OpenAI的"星际之门"计划。这两家公司当前占据全球内存市场前三席中的两席，尽管上周行业再曝重磅消息，但早在秋季来临之际，供应短缺已开始推高消费级产品价格。

"这太疯狂了。"一位Reddit用户在十月如此写道。随着黑色星期五到来，更多悲观情绪蔓延——其他用户乃至Mashable等媒体发现，部分内存在促销季期间售价竟高达四位数。

然而最剧烈的涨价发生在十二月初，最后一家主要内存生产商美光宣布：以消费级"英睿达"系列闻名多年的该公司，将于2026年退出消费级内存市场，专注AI领域，终结该系列三十年的历史。此后多款内存产品价格再度跃升，即便内存制造商报告显示其利润较去年翻倍。

正如高德纳分析师什里什·普兰特向The Verge所言："如果你不是服务器客户，就会被内存供应商视为次要优先级。"

当前内存究竟多贵？

虽然所有电脑配件价格都存在波动，但内存历来属于较实惠的部件——知名品牌的常规容量套装通常低于100美元，升级配置也仅需150美元左右。这样的时代似乎已一去不返。

我关注的游戏主播兼TikTok创作者克里斯蒂安·迪瓦恩近期透露，他四月以90美元购入的内存套装现已突破400美元，这并非个例。近期社交媒体上类似情绪弥漫，为验证情况，我查阅了PCMag评选的2025年最佳游戏内存榜单，发现从去年八月至今价格变化如下：

• G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5-7200：八月110美元 → 现价360美元
• G.Skill Trident Z5 64GB DDR5-6400 CL32：八月170美元 → 现价640美元
• G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3600：八月46美元 → 现价105美元

虽然这只是部分型号，但明显可见全行业价格普涨。装机爱好者常用的配件比价网站PCPartPicker显示，当前评分最高的内存售价已达407美元，同类产品也普遍处于高位。如今百美元以下的内存难觅踪影，多数情况需要支付比年初高出两三倍的价格。

直接购买内存时价差最为显著，这主要影响自主装机用户，但其他消费者很快也会感受到压力。

内存涨价将如何影响普通用户？

此前讨论主要针对直接购买内存的群体（以装机用户为主），但如果您习惯购买整机设备，同样难以避开涨价潮。笔记本电脑、平板和手机制造商都需要采购内存，成本上升必然波及终端产品。

CyberPowerPC等整机厂商已提价，模块化笔记本制造商Framework也宣布即将跟进。就连以廉价单板电脑著称的树莓派，最近也不得不上调旗舰产品售价，并明确将原因归咎于内存成本。

这些产品虽主要面向科技爱好者，但可视为行业风向标。爆料人"摩尔定律已死"近期暗示内存涨价可能导致Xbox再度调价，戴尔首席运营官杰夫·克拉克在财报电话会议中更直言："事实是所有产品的成本基础都在上升。"

部分企业正竭力缓冲短缺对消费者的冲击。彭博社报道称联想正在囤积内存，试图为2026年的消费者"平衡价格与供应"，惠普则表示可能限制设备内存配置，但最终仍可能提价。

简言之，即便您是轻度科技产品用户，当前也非理想的购置时机。影响还可能蔓延至其他部件——IDC研究副总裁杰夫·亚努克维茨向The Verge指出，为抵消内存成本上涨，某些企业可能削减电池或显示屏等组件的配置。他同时警告，本就压缩成本的平价设备可能面临更大幅度的涨价。

内存价格会回归正常吗？

正如戴尔首席运营官克拉克所言，内存价格波动并非首次，但他承认本轮涨幅"前所未有"。虽然这对内存市场确属异常，但让人联想到2020年代初显卡涨价的情形。

显卡需求问题至今未解（因其同样适用于AI运算），但在本世纪二十年代初，游戏玩家曾极难按建议零售价购入显卡。当时加密货币挖矿需求旺盛，甚至迫使英伟达刻意降低显卡挖矿性能。此后随着加密货币机制变化与热潮减退，制造商报告显示需求逐渐萎缩。

虽然AI热潮尚未退去，但若相关需求降温，内存市场可能经历类似周期。否则就需要依靠制造商平衡供需关系。

回到克拉克的发言，他将现状归类为"需求远超供应"。值得注意的是，虽然美光计划退出消费级内存市场，但三星和SK海力士并未坐视。

据韩国《首尔经济日报》报道，SK海力士计划投入5000亿美元建设新工厂，首座将于2027年投产。该公司向The Verge明确表示"不考虑终止消费级业务"。因此未来几年供应可能改善。

但内存短缺何时缓解仍难预测。与SK海力士相反，三星近期在投资者电话会议中表示不会"快速扩张产能"，转而采取更模糊的"维持长期盈利能力"策略。Tech Insight据此推测内存高价可能持续至2028年。

显然市场仍处于动荡期，各企业仍在探索定价策略。虽无法断言价格何时回落，但结合行业动态与显卡市场的历史经验，关键转折点可能在于AI需求降温或产能大幅提升。

如果现在必须购买内存怎么办？

鉴于众多电子设备离不开内存，您可能不得不面对短缺期购物的现实。若确需购买，可参考以下策略：

选择整机设备：虽然中小型整机制造商已开始提价，但联想等大型厂商正竭力减轻客户负担。目前苹果尚未提高MacBook或iPhone 17售价，Pixel 10和微软Surface Laptop等设备甚至正在促销。历史上整机价格通常高于自主装机，但在部件短缺期，大企业比个人消费者拥有更多成本调控空间。

降低内存配置：虽然不建议选择8GB以下内存，但多数用户（包括游戏玩家）16GB已足够。过去建议预留余量是明智的，但随着价格攀升，现阶段按最低需求配置或许是更务实的选择。

立即购买或耐心等待：这听起来有些矛盾，但内存价格短期内恐难回落。请评估自身是否需要近期添置笔记本、台式机、手机、平板或游戏主机。若确有必要，最好在戴尔、惠普乃至Xbox等厂商提价前行动。若能坚持使用现有设备数年，则不妨观望市场变化，避免在短缺期装机。无论作何选择都应尽快决定——随着2026年供应可能进一步收紧，届时购机将更加艰难。

英文来源：

RAM, also known as random-access memory (or just memory for short), is an important part of most electronics these days. It essentially allows programs to keep key information at the ready so they don't have to dig through your storage (like your hard drive or solid state drive) to find it. RAM is in laptops, phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and even cars, and all apps rely on it at least a little bit.
Essentially, if your device has a computer in it, it probably comes with RAM equipped, or it'll want you to install some before it'll boot up. But that dependency has become a big problem recently. While RAM has historically been one of the cheaper components for home techies to buy, over the past few months, RAM has gotten much more expensive, going from an afterthought on many people's budgets to something you have to save for.
There are a few reasons for that, but even if you're not a hardcore PC builder and you're not buying RAM outright, these price jumps could still affect you in the long term.
What happened?
Like with most tech shakeups these days, the big reason for the sudden explosion in RAM pricing is AI. Citing trade research firm TrendForce and Korean publication The Chosun Daily, Lifehacker sister site PCMag started reporting on shifting RAM prices in October, and it's only gotten worse since.
According to these analysts and industry insiders, manufacturers have slowly been focusing more of their attention on RAM specifically meant for AI data centers, with Samsung and SK Hynix in particular prioritizing production of high bandwidth memory that consumer goods don't use. Tom's Hardware backed this up with its own reporting in October, saying that these companies have devoted what may be around 40% of global RAM output to a single AI project—OpenAI's Stargate project. Those are two out of the three biggest RAM makers right now, and while all this was followed by a bombshell last week, the situation already didn't look good as we entered fall, with a shortage beginning to affect consumer prices.
"This is insanity," wrote one Reddit user in October, with more pessimism coming around Black Friday, when other users and even publications like other Lifehacker sister site Mashable noticed that some RAM was selling for as high as four-figures, during what was supposedly a sales season.
But the largest RAM price hikes hit at the start of December, following an announcement from the last remaining major RAM producer—Micron. The company, long known for its consumer-focused Crucial series, said it would be leaving the consumer RAM business in 2026 to focus on AI, bringing an end to Crucial's 30-year history in the process. Since then, RAM prices across several products have jumped even higher, even as RAM producers report doubled profits over last year.
Essentially, as Gartner analyst Shrish Plant told The Verge, "If you are not a server customer, you will be considered a second priority for memory vendors."
How expensive is RAM now?
While all computer component prices fluctuate, RAM has usually been among the cheaper ones, generally coming in under $100 for a respectable amount from a good brand, or closer to $150 for an upgrade. Those days, it seems, have gone out the window.
A streamer and TikToker I follow, Christian Divyne, recently posted that a RAM kit he bought in April for $90 is now over $400, and he's not alone. I've seen this sentiment all over social media lately, so to check it myself, I went through PCMag's list of the best RAM for gaming in 2025, and here are the price differences I found from August of 2025 to now.
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB DDR5-7200, was $110 in August, $360 now.
G.Skill Trident Z5 64 GB DDR5-6400 CL32, was $170 in August, $640 now.
G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB DDR4-3600, was $46 in August, $105 now.
While this is a small selection of RAM, it's clear these higher prices are present across the whole industry. PCPartPicker, a popular site where PC building enthusiasts rate parts for their machines, currently says its highest rated RAM is $407, with competing memory often hitting similar highs. Essentially, it's now difficult to find any RAM below $100, and most likely, you'll need to pay two or three times more than you might have earlier in the year.
These price jumps are most apparent when buying RAM directly, which mostly affects PC builders, but others will likely feel the crunch soon.
How is more expensive RAM going to affect me?
So far, I've only focused on higher prices for people buying RAM outright, which mostly affects PC builders. But if you prefer to buy your tech pre-built, don't assume that means you won't end up paying more, too. Laptop, tablet, and phone makers all need to get RAM from somewhere, and as prices increase, they'll also be affected.
Already, prices at companies like CyberPowerPC, which offers pre-built desktops, have gone up, and modular laptop maker Framework has announced that it will soon follow suit. Even Raspberry Pi, known for making cheap single board computers for home projects, was forced to raise prices on its most recent flagship, while calling out memory costs as the reason.
All of those products are aimed more at enthusiasts, sure, but consider them the canary in the coal mine. Leaker Moore's Law is Dead recently suggested RAM prices could lead to another price hike for the Xbox, while Dell COO Jeff Clarke said in a recent earnings call that "the fact is, the cost basis is going up across all products."
Some companies are doing their best to keep consumers from feeling the effects of the shortage. Bloomberg recently reported that Lenovo is currently stockpiling RAM to try to "strike a balance between price and availability" for consumers in 2026, while HP said it might limit the memory inside its devices, but could still end up having to raise prices.
In short, it's a tough time to be buying tech, even if you're more casual with your devices. And it might affect more than RAM, too—speaking to The Verge, Research VP at IDC Jeff Janukowicz suggested some companies might skimp on other components, like battery or display, to help avoid raising prices due to increased memory costs. He also suggested that more affordable devices, where corners have already been cut as much as possible, could end up seeing more price increases than others.
Will RAM prices go back to normal?
As Dell COO Jeff Clarke mentioned in that earnings call, this isn't the first time RAM prices have fluctuated, but he did admit this particular bump is "unprecedented." While I'd agree that's true for memory, it does remind me of the graphics card price hikes that happened around the early 2020s.
Graphics card demand is still not a solved problem, as those components are also very useful for AI, but towards the start of the decade, it became very difficult for gamers to get their hands on GPUs, especially for close to MSRP. That was thanks to demand from cryptocurrency miners, which was high enough that Nvidia actually started making its cards worse at mining. Manufacturers reported thereafter that demand was drying up, largely in response to changes in how cryptocurrency works and lowered interest in cryptocurrency overall.
While the AI bubble hasn't popped (yet), it's possible RAM could follow a similar cycle if interest in AI starts to cool. Otherwise, it'll be up to manufacturers to balance supply and demand.
Going back to Clarke's comments, he said "I'd categorize it as demand is way ahead of supply." On that note, while Micron is supposedly getting out of the consumer RAM game, Samsung and SK Hynix haven't stayed silent on the issue.
As reported by Korean outlet Seoul Economic Daily, SK Hynix is planning to spend $500 billion to build new production plants, with the first set to open in 2027. The company also told The Verge that, concerning consumer products, it "is not considering to discontinue the related business." So, supply could see a boost in coming years.
At the same time, it's difficult to know for sure when the RAM shortage will clear up. Contrasting SK Hynix, Samsung recently said during an investor relations call (as translated by PCGamer and originally reported on by Tech Insight) that it won't be "rapidly expanding facilities," and will instead pursue a much harder to define plan of "maintaining long-term profitability." Tech Insight took the opportunity to speculate that RAM prices could remain high through 2028.
In short, it's clear that the market is still volatile, and that companies are still figuring out ways to address pricing. I can't say for certain when RAM prices will drop again, but going on what those in the industry are saying, as well as similar issues with GPUs in the past, it seems like the key indicators here would be a reduced interest in AI, or increased production capacity.
What if I need to buy RAM now?
In the meantime, because so many electronics need RAM, you may find yourself needing to bite the bullet and buy during the shortage. If that's the case, here are the best ways to buy RAM right now.
Buy prebuilt. While smaller prebuilt device manufacturers are already increasing prices, it's clear that larger device makers like Lenovo are doing their best to keep their customers from feeling the shortage. Right now, Apple has yet to raise prices on MacBooks or the iPhone 17, and devices like the Pixel 10 and Microsoft Surface Laptop are actually on sale. Historically, buying a computer prebuilt instead of building it yourself has come at a premium, but during a component shortage, a large company is going to have more avenues to mitigate costs than you.
Use less RAM. While I wouldn't suggest going for less than 8GB of RAM, most users shouldn't need more than 16GB, even if they want to game. More headroom is good when you can get it, and while it's been a good suggestion to err on the side of caution in the past, as prices get higher, it might be better to figure out the bare minimum you can skate by with for now.
Buy now, or choose to wait. This one sounds a bit contradictory, but basically, I wouldn't expect RAM prices to normalize anytime soon. Take a look at your needs and figure out whether you need a new laptop, PC, phone, tablet, or game console anytime soon. If so, it might be worth going in on one now, before manufacturers like Dell, HP, or even Xbox have a chance to raise prices. If you think you can hold out for a few more years, though, it might be better off waiting to see how the situation plays out rather than trying to build during a shortage. Either way, make your decision soon, because you probably won't want to be buying RAM as supply starts to shrink even further through 2026.