DDR4 memory prices are jumping, which isn't a big deal if you're building a new PC and shopping for DDR5 RAM. But if you want to stretch the life of your aging computer with a cheap DDR4 memory upgrade, you'll be paying more for it now than you would have a couple weeks ago. In fact, you might even pay more than you would for DDR5 memory.
According to analysts at TrendForce and PCPartPicker, prices for DDR4 memory surged in mid-June, possibly due to rumors that major RAM manufacturers are ramping down production. TrendForce noted that some 8GB DDR4 modules doubled in price recently. With new PC motherboards supporting DDR5, it's only a matter of time before DDR4 production fades—which means high prices as supplies dwindle.
Meanwhile, politics could send prices even higher.
"Looking ahead, the US could issue new tariffs or restrictions related to production capacity against China," TrendForce noted in a post on X. "This, in turn, may trigger another round of panic buying. Whether such an event will occur will be a key point of observation in the short term."
The research firm added that the average price of 8GB DDR4 modules has risen by 12.7% in recent weeks. As our sibling publication PCMag notes, the jump in memory prices doesn't compare with the Wild West that is the GPU market, but it matters nonetheless. One of the perks of being tech-savvy is that you can squeeze performance out of your PC longer than the average user, because you're not afraid to take off that side panel and upgrade your hardware. And, of all the upgrades you can make to a PC, swapping out the memory is one of the easier performance-enhancing tasks.
Trade tensions between China and the US seem to have cooled a bit. The White House indicated that it will allow Chinese students in US schools and China will supply the US with magnets and rare earth minerals needed for electronics and other products, according to Reuters . But the tariff war has been nothing if not volatile this year, and it's not clear when tensions will settle.
Credit: TrendForce
With that in mind, if you're thinking about upgrading a PC that runs DDR4 RAM, now might be a good time to do it—or at least pick up the memory. The recent price hike makes that less palatable, but prices seem more likely to go up than drop in the near future. It could be worthwhile to snag the RAM and start thinking about what other parts you want to replace.
