Price of 25-year-old DDR2 memory set to more than double — thanks to AI-driven RAM-armageddon
- AI infrastructure spending has broken the global memory supply chain
- DDR2 prices are set to surge 60% in Q2 2026 alone
- Some manufacturers are redesigning DDR3 systems around DDR2 to secure components
The AI boom is creating unexpected consequences across the memory industry, including renewed demand for technologies introduced more than two decades ago.
As manufacturers prioritize advanced products serving AI infrastructure, older memory generations are becoming increasingly difficult to source in meaningful quantities.
That shift is now pushing DDR2 prices sharply higher despite the technology first appearing around 25 years ago.
Legacy memory demand rises as newer DRAM becomes scarce
DRAM shortages have pushed memory prices sharply higher, with DDR4 contract pricing reportedly surging by as much as 2200% at some point.
Industry executives such as Nothing CEO Carl Pei and Frameworkhave warned that supply constraints and elevated pricing are unlikely to ease in the near term.
According...
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