DDR5 RAM retail prices have climbed to yet another record high in August 2026, extending a steep run-up that shows no signs of easing. According to 3DCenter’s latest retail survey, the DDR5 price index now sits at 486% of its July 2025 baseline, up from 445% in July 2026. That marks a 9.2% month-over-month increase, leaving tracked DDR5 products at roughly 4.9 times their prices from just over a year ago. The news was reported by Gamerant.
The surge is driven primarily by AI infrastructure demand, which continues to strain memory supply chains. The impact is already spilling into gaming hardware, with Xbox acknowledging that memory costs will affect the pricing and availability of its next-generation Project Helix console. With no immediate relief in sight, PC builders and gamers are facing increasingly expensive upgrades.
3DCenter Index Shows Steady Climb
3DCenter’s August 2026 survey, based on German retail pricing, shows the DDR5 price index at 486% of its July 2025 baseline. This follows a pattern of consistent increases: the index reached 419% in June and 445% in July 2026, indicating the latest record is not due to a single unusually expensive kit but reflects broad market conditions.
One stark example from the survey: a tracked 2x32GB DDR5-6400 CL32 kit configuration that cost €181 at the July 2025 baseline is now listed at €1,093 in August 2026—a 503% increase. 3DCenter notes that its figures are based on German retail pricing, so the index should not be treated as a measurement of worldwide RAM prices.
South Korean DRAM Exports Highlight Global Pressure
Beyond retail, the wholesale market shows similar strain. Citing Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute figures, ChosunBiz reports that the export unit value of South Korean DRAM chips, excluding DRAM modules, averaged $92,183 per kilogram between August 1 and August 20. That was up 401% year over year, while the total value of relevant DRAM exports jumped approximately 505% to $9.81 billion.
ChosunBiz calculated that one kilogram of South Korean DRAM at the August export valuation was worth approximately as much as 620 grams of 24-karat gold. Notably, the $92,183 figure was not a new sequential record: the comparable July 1-20 export value was higher at $100,198 per kilogram.
Industry Outlook: Shortage Could Persist Through 2030
Industry leaders see no quick resolution. TrendForce said in July that DRAM contract prices had hit records and forecast another 13% to 18% quarter-over-quarter increase in Q3 2026. SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung recently said the shortage could potentially persist through 2030.
For gamers, the immediate consequence is higher costs for new builds and upgrades. Xbox’s acknowledgment that memory costs will affect Project Helix pricing and availability underscores how the shortage is reshaping hardware economics. As AI infrastructure continues to absorb memory supply, DDR5 prices are unlikely to return to earlier levels anytime soon.
