What is happening with DDR4 prices? is it true that it's getting more expensive than DDR5?
Posted by Gambit-47@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 85 comments
I have been wondering if I should upgrade my CPU and RAM maybe now would be a good time. Or maybe I should wait till black Friday and Cyber Monday. How are sales for PC parts during those days? is it worth eating or are the deals pretty much like all the other deals that pop up all year?
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IWillAssFuckYou@reddit
Well, good thing I got my 64 GB DDR4 upgrade two months ago. Was thinking about it for awhile due to my use of virtual machines.
pnoozi@reddit
Me too... Tariffs spooked me so I replaced one of my 8GB sets with 64GB. Now I kind of regret not picking up another set.
72Gb should suffice for a while, right?
IWillAssFuckYou@reddit
Depends on what you do. Gaming, I mean yeah but 64 GB is too much for gaming. 32 GB is more than enough for most people. Even with VMs I hardly even go past 32 GB by very much.
Why 72 GB? I wouldn't run the 8 GB stick though on a third slot if you have two 32 GB sticks to make 64 GB as you couldn't run those 64 GB sticks at full speed if you use XMP.
pnoozi@reddit
It's 2x32GB, 2x4GB, all same brand and compatible timings and speed using XMP.
IWillAssFuckYou@reddit
What's the memory running at? I'm shocked if it works on 4 slots at 3200 MHz or above.
JonWood007@reddit
Old tech does that. Gets cheaper as a new standard gets adopted, then they stop manufacturing it so the price goes up again due to relative scarcity.
OliTheOK@reddit
people are acting like ddr4 is just gonna disappear when you can just buy it second hand/refurb for even cheaper than before. often with warranty
Ziggy0511@reddit
This, just look on ebay. No reason to buying new ddr4 at this point. I just doubled up my RAM by filling the two open slots with the same exact kit I had. Orginal kit cost me like 80 when i built my pc, got the exact same kit last week for 25.
1lookwhiplash@reddit
Can you literally just open up your case and stick the additional RAM sticks in there?
_Designer_Boner_@reddit
How else are you going to put them in?
1lookwhiplash@reddit
I didn't recall if I needed to run some sort of BIOS update to have them function.
BajaBlastFromThePast@reddit
May have to enable XMP or change some settings depending on your specific configuration but you also may not have to
GerhardtDH@reddit
It's not unheard of for a factory BIOS to have an issue with running more than two memory sticks, you probably had that for the specific mobo you bought at the time.
94stanggt@reddit
I swear the internet has made people lazier over the years.
postsshortcomments@reddit
Yes. There are a couple things that you should look for an keep an eye out for, though. I'd highly recommend checking the QVL (qualified vendor list) for a RAM model that has been confirmed compatible. You should be able to locate this very easily with your motherboard model (type system in search and motherboard model is usually under 'BaseBoard Product'). Even if a RAM model doesn't show up on the QVL, there's a decent likelihood that it'll work.. but I'd rather it on the list than not (especially for basic RAM overclocks which should be mandatory these days).
It can be buried a bit, so I'll provide an example of about where to find the QVL. I'll use this motherboard model (PRIME X570-P) and this is where you start. From there I'll navigate to suppory Support, select the CPU/memory support tab, select Memory / Device Support, and I'll find a list of QVLs. This list is separated by CPU series.. so I'll match it to the CPU series (in my case a 5000 series because I'm using a 5600). I can't link that page directly, but it should look like an excel sheet of hundreds of RAM models.
Installation is very easy. To disengage your current RAM stick, you'll often see little thumb tabs that can be disengaged. Press those down and you should feel them disengage. Now locate a little notch on pin side of the RAM sticks which appear to be about centre, but not centre.. That picture is two different ram sticks next to each other, but the notch is the white U-shaped area you see in the centre of the picture. You'll look for that on both the RAM stick which should match the motherboard slot. As long as you locate that "notch," you can't really install it incorrectly. You may need a small amount of force to get it to click, but not much - palm of your hand and about enough to close the lid on a tupperware.
Lastly, slot does matter. This you'd find in your motherboard manual. Usually.. it's 'every other' and something like this is very standard. I've never heard of "wrong pairings" physically hurting RAM or motherboards, but the system probably won't like it and may not POST until it's properly configured (the earliest stage of a computer booting). Further, if you're running two sticks "wrongly paired" it will be a fairly measurable performance decrease.
With AMD boards two sticks is often considered the best, most stable, and most likely to work configuration. Intel can get away running four sticks a bit more reliably, but again two sticks is probably your best bet.
The last step is ensuring your RAM Overclock profile is enabled (that's the 3200 ram vs. 2666 RAM part). If you do not manually enable it, the RAM will run at default settings. You do this in the BIOs which again is fairly easy (but be warned that if you change the wrong settings, theoretically can start changing voltage in ways that can damage your equipment.) Usually it's called something like "RAM overclock profile," "DOCP," or XMP. I recommend youtubing something like ASUS RAM overclock for X570-P model and find a similar UEFI interface that you see.
If the motherboard does not like the RAM overclock (which you really should enable).. and sometimes you just have an unlucky CPU, motherboard model, motherboard, or VRM it may blackscreen on boot and appear dead. No worries, you just have to remove the CMOS battery or, if your motherboard has a reset CMOS battery, press that. Do note that resetting your CMOS may revert your BIOs settings (and things like fan curves) to default. It's not all that common anymore, but some builds - especially with peripherals - may have required some manual BIOs settings to get running previously. So I just don't want someone to try this and unknowingly reset something they cannot fix.
AcidBuuurn@reddit
Unplug your computer first.
Or don’t and make a video.
Buieky@reddit
Yeah if you got empty slots.
94stanggt@reddit
Some people are regarded. The internet seems to bring them out in force unfortunately.
OliTheOK@reddit
they just didnt know and thats ok man
NagoGmo@reddit
Yup, I haven't bought new ram in years, always off eBay of FB
MistSecurity@reddit
I've never had good luck with used RAM. End up having problems, tracing the problem, and it's the damn RAM.
NagoGmo@reddit
I guess I'm just lucky 🤷🏿
My current rig is almost entirely off eBay/FB
TheAngrytechguy@reddit
It’s normal for older Kits to become more expensive.
aragorn18@reddit
Prices are going up as memory manufacturers stop producing DDR4 modules and instead shift to the AI-focused HBM chips. If you want an upgrade, buy it now.
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ram/ddr4-costs-soar-as-manufacturers-pull-the-plug
Faux_Grey@reddit
Exactly this. It's driving me crazy because we can't source realistically-priced server DDR4 DIMMS for love nor money.
Hopefully a new manufacturer can step in soon and start production of something, as usual, they all jump onto the AI bandwagon..
Will almost certainly be manufactured in the east at this rate.
Gonna do whacky things for the markets of Dell & etc, intel who have old chips to sell that are based on ddr4 platforms, costing of those is gonna come way down as nobody can afford the RAM.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Damn, I haven't even thought about that yet. I was just surprised to hear the news. I remember not long ago that I decided to not upgrade to the new platform because of the prices lol and now the tables have turned.
aragorn18@reddit
If you wait long enough, the prices of old components purchased new will always surpass the price of current components due to low supply.
Faux_Grey@reddit
AM4 in 2025, nab what you can while its there, if you're still on Ryzen 1xxx or 2xxx platforms, now is the best time to score a cheap Ryzen 5600 or 3600 to give AM4 its last legs, you dont want to be on Ryzen 1xxx/2xxx over the next few years, especially if you game.
MistSecurity@reddit
Man, I wish sockets had more longevity. AM6 is already rumored to be coming out in a year or two with the next line of AMD CPUs, so AM5 is not going to really have any upgrade path beyond this year.
Would be super cool to have been able to pick up an AM4 chip on release and then be able to upgrade it all the way to the 5000 series.
aragorn18@reddit
The latest rumors are that Zen 6 and Zen 7 will both be on AM5. That's four generations, the same as AM4.
Livy__Of__Rome@reddit
Am5 will get new CPUs through 2027 maybe later... You could easily pick up a new CPU in 2027 and still get four or five years of good performance.
PsyOmega@reddit
you don't really want to be on 3600 either.
I upgraded 3800X to 5600X and my fps just about doubled and 1% lows doubled/tripled. Zen 2 was not that good of a cpu it turns out.
Faux_Grey@reddit
Exactly, but your options right now tend to be brand new Ryzen 5500 or Marketplace Ryzen 3600
Arguably the 3600, while older, has more cache and pcie gen 4 support and is 'technically' a better buy than a 5500 in everything except power efficiency.
Dont forget about the difference between Ryzen 1xxx/2xxx and the 3xxx series.
1xxx and 2xxx had almost-haswell levels of IPC, the equivalent of intel 4th-gen Core series in a time period where we had 6th and 7th generation Core processors.
Ryzen 3xxx came out and had a huge uplift in comparison. Not saying it's amazing, but better than being stuck on a Ryzen 1600AF.
I recently moved a friend from a 1600AF to a 5500 and there are big improvements, it's no 5600 but eh better than nothing.
PsyOmega@reddit
That's the thing though. You can be getting 90fps on 3600, but the frame pacing is so bad. Its not even worth going from 1600 to 3600 IMO. It's a dead end. Just save up and jump to AM6 7500F at that rate.
Completely fixed by zen 3.
Faux_Grey@reddit
Yeah, 2 years goes by in a blink! Here's a hardware scene update:
u/SpectralSpartan beer & a whiteboard time?
DDR5 is getting 'appropriately' priced for the uplift in technology, there are whispers of DDR6 soon from next-gen platforms of AMD & Intel, but that's going to be the long play - L3 Cache - anyone from a supercomputing background will tell you what's hott in HPC right now is L3 Cache, and AMD has plenty, intel is picking up the pieces and are hopefully coming with something soon. https://www.tweaktown.com/news/106923/intel-nova-lake-cpu-full-leak-52-cores-bllc-is-intels-answer-to-x3d-cache-lga-1954-socket/index.html
But the formula right now is 'large cache' processors, because memory is the bottleneck as IPC of modern processors floats towards a instruction set ceiling, and registers are expensive.
We've been at dual-channel consumer systems for a while now, pretty sure that's about to change - DRAM width is probably going to be cheaper than building L3. Hell, AMD have 12-channel 256c processors coming (they're already at 192c and their core design has this in the realms of realism) - https://www.techpowerup.com/336647/amd-epyc-venice-leak-2-nm-zen-6-and-zen-6c-to-offer-up-to-256c-512t-and-1-gb-of-l3-in-a-single-socket
I would not be surprised to see 4 or 6 channel 'consumer' platforms using multi-channel RAM at some point in the future - DDR5 platforms are where we enter the cache wars - AMD vs Intel on who can make a CPU with the most L3 to hide the fact we need more RAM bandwidth because cores are now so plentiful and fast while applications so thicc and chonky.
We're running out of physical space inside of servers to put all the memory modules, so something has gotta give at some point.
Where is more RAM gonna fit lmao?
https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/system/hyper/1u/as%20-1115hs-tnr
MWink64@reddit
So you're saying it's time to dig out my old AMD K6-3?
PsyOmega@reddit
Strix Halo is a consumer cpu with a 256bit memory bus for system memory (unified)
128bit DDR5 is already 4 channel (32x4)
Faux_Grey@reddit
Exactly! Handheld consoles will start using this configuration more and more.
Faux_Grey@reddit
\~40GB/s of RAM is not enough to feed 16 or 32 Thread processors in your desktop at home. If only there were going to be some big differentiator that has a positive effect on memory as a midpoint in socket lifecycle to drive some motherboard sales: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/cudimm-memory-ddr5-explained-performance-benchmark/2.html
This next lifecycle we'll see a push for manufacturers to use CUDIMM-supporting platforms for memory performance, this will continue for a while. HyperMegaLED-RGB-X-AI motherboards will come out from your usual gaming brands and be 'optimized' for 'AI' performance because ram bandwidth = better.
Intel have just rebranded their "Core i3/5/7/9" branding for Ultra-3/5/7/9 (Ultra means it's better somehow?) - we'll see AMD adopt the 'AI' branding (yay I already hate this acronym), and launch their 'AI' APUs with an onboard GPU that 'works best for AI' when paired with new board+CUDIMM to drive partner motherboard sales. https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/consumer/ryzen-ai.html
Could always just use GDDR memory for system memory, but it's expensive.. but what if you could just build a system with GPU memory, that shares that memory and offloads everything to GPU and has a comparatively, simpler, lower power processor? Oh wait, they're already there: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/products/workstations/dgx-spark/
The day nvidia finds a way to make one of their chips run Windows, or allow linux to steal the windows gaming market, we're doomed from a hardware sense because Nvidia+ARM vs Windows & x86. (they did with Vmware! https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/lp/networking/vsphere-bluefield-solution-brief/ )
I wouldn't want to be sony or microsoft right now, stuck with low-performing hardware, but a new console diminishes existing stock value.. how to keep up with PC while unfeasably launching new AAA titles on a low-performance non 'AI' console? Well.. consoles are just computers, so how about a handheld computer console to test the waters for a quick 'handheld xbox series s' and drive mass, quality gaming in a handheld way now that the tech is kind of there.
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/handhelds/rog-xbox-ally
There's your computer-land update.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the update
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
See, this is when you need to combine old solutions with new solutions.
Step 1 Download more RAM
Step 2 put it in the cloud
EZ
Hijakkr@reddit
I highly doubt that'll happen, considering the rate at which DDR4 is plummeting in market share. Not enough people will be looking to buy it in the future as last generation hardware becomes obsolete.
ACrucialTechII@reddit
So is AI going to play video games for me then or what?
aragorn18@reddit
Yeah, kinda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDKhUknuQDg
MistSecurity@reddit
What I hate most about this is that there doesn't seem to be anywhere you can mess around with it at all. You basically have to trust the marketing on its capabilities, haha.
IWillAssFuckYou@reddit
I feel like my head is gonna explode even more each time I hear AI being the cause of parts being discontinued or less in supply (and thus higher prices).
Substantial-Time-421@reddit
It makes me mildly worried for the manufacturing market once the AI bubble finally bursts for good (and imo the stress fractures are already starting to appear)
IWillAssFuckYou@reddit
You know... I feel dumb for not realizing that an AI bubble is occurring.
But yeah they're pushing hard on hardware for AI and once it cools off, they're stuck with all of this supply that they'll lose money on.
MistSecurity@reddit
Haha, don't feel TOO dumb. If it's not something you really think about often it'd be really easy to miss the parallels between the dotcom bubble of the early 2000's and this AI bubble.
What I don't get is how these companies are seemingly not caring. I guess they all want to cash in while they can, and think that they can time the market getting out before it completely collapses. Feels like the same logic people have when they're getting into the pump-and-dump shitcoins...
mduell@reddit
Bubbles leave residue when they pop.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Crap, I'm sorry I forgot to mention that I have DDR4 and was thinking of upgrading to DDR5 do you still think buying now would be better for me?
aragorn18@reddit
DDR5 prices are mostly stable. But, Black Friday rarely brings significant discounts for core PC components. If you want to buy an SSD or keyboard, then it might be worth waiting. But, CPU, GPU and RAM are usually already as cheap as they can be. There's no margin to do discounts.
onthenerdyside@reddit
Depends on if you're looking for the current gen or last gen for CPU and GPU. Sometimes you can find very good deals on those around Black Friday. For example, last year I found a 5800X for a decent price and they threw in a 32GB RAM kit. I also grabbed a 7800XT for the lowest I'd seen one.
Use tools like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to make sure you're getting an actual bargain on Amazon. PCPartPicker also has price history data for other sites like NewEgg.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah, you just reminded me that I found a good deal on my 5800X3d on black Friday lol I got it for like $270 🤔 I wonder if it's worth more now. Maybe I can use it to help fund a move to AM5, though I'm not sure that it would be worth the overall cost of having to upgrade RAM and motherboard for 3440x1440p gaming
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Ah, I see. Thanks
Stingray88@reddit
In the same system? You know you’ll likely need a whole new computer right? There are technically some motherboards that support both, but they were pretty rare.
Live-Juggernaut-221@reddit
Happened with DDR3, DDR2, DDR, RDRAM, SDRAM, 72 pin SIMMS....
14hourstosave@reddit
Happens every upgrade cycle on RAM, until “older systems” especially in the business space cycle out. See this Reddit post from 8yrs ago asking literally the same question: https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/s/aLQPHSrcXd
AnnieBruce@reddit
It's normal for this to happen as the new stuff gets fully mainstream while a lot of systems still using the old standard are still in service.
After those systems age out of routine service all bets are off. Prices could skyrocket with a limited supply and retro enthusiasts wanting it for builds, they could crater if there are enough critical systems left that need it, but not enough of them to sell an entire minimum production run, they might price low just to move the product.
Eventually though it will reach vintage status and that pricing can get insane.
tyrant609@reddit
DDR4 becoming legacy so more expensive.
AnnieBruce@reddit
I remember needing to buy some DDR3 after DDR4 was fully mainstream. Ouch. It was cheaper than upgrading the entire system to use DDR4, but it was about double the price of the same capacity DDR4.
Smarmy82@reddit
This always happens. All new platforms are on DDR5 and that is where production and development budgets go for RAM makers.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Oh, ok, I haven't owned a PC for a long time. I didn't know that this was a normal thing. From my experience with other electronics, usually older tech prices drop,not the other way around lol
Stingray88@reddit
This phenomenon applies to other electronics as well.
Things get cheaper as they get older, but only to a point… once they stop being manufactured, they start getting more expensive.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
True, it depends on the item, though. I have seen plenty of really old start that's worth pennies, but i sold a CRT recently for $500 lol
MistSecurity@reddit
Ya, it really depends on the item a LOT. Some stuff will cycle back into relevance, other stuff just ends up being e-waste.
"Retro" PC cases is another one where mint cases can be worth a lot due to people wanting to make sleeper builds with them.
Phyzzx@reddit
They will drop again, the current rise is in the secondary market. Few people actually need the latest chipset. Previous gen mobos with current gen gpus will meet high settings for a long time.
Smarmy82@reddit
It does initially for sure and you kinda missed that when DDR5 started taking over, but there is enough demand for DDR4 still thanks to AM4 so you will see the upswing and then the crash
Current_Finding_4066@reddit
No, it is not really more expensive. But it does seem to go in this direction. All in all, RAM is still really cheap compared to not long ago.
RecalcitrantBeagle@reddit
On the other hand, it is more expensive than it was ~6-12 months ago. I doubt it'll ever go over DDR5 prices, but it is definitely noticeably more expensive - there were 2x16GB kits readily available for $40-45 for a long time, now they're all $55+. We'll likely see a rise for a while, as DDR4 becomes more 'valuable' until it gets to the point where DDR4 systems aren't really worth upgrading anymore, and used DDR4 fills the used market for cheap as people switch platforms.
Current_Finding_4066@reddit
Question was if it is more expensive than DDR5.
RecalcitrantBeagle@reddit
I was addressing you saying that RAM is cheap compared to not long ago. If you're referring to back in the lovely price-fixing days of early DDR4, then yes, quite a bit, but at this point that does feel like it was long ago, and more recent pricing was actually lower than this.
MouaTV@reddit
Sucks trying to get DDR4 SODIMM for my mini PC home server that I just got into messing around with. Has me wondering if I want to just jump to a DDR5 DIMM platform.
RecalcitrantBeagle@reddit
Depends on what capacity you're going for, but SODIMM is still relatively easy to get on the used market - it can always be stripped out of laptops headed for grave for various reasons, so there's a decent amount just floating around. Sadly, as more and more laptops start to switch to soldered LPDDR, we'll probably see a drop-off on that trend with DDR5 SODIMM.
shiznid12@reddit
Does nobody remember having a DDR-2 when DDR-3 became common? Shit was like 6 times more expensive.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Not everyone had a PC in 2007...
ForsakenRoom@reddit
There's definitely stock issues starting to happen, I just had a stick of DDR4 start to fail in my PC, I RMAd it to Corsair under their lifetime warranty and they've said they're out of stock and it'll be a few more days before the replacement gets sent out.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Damn, hope you get a replacement soon.
Immortal_Crusader@reddit
I lowkey lucked out, bought a trident rgb 2x16 32gb 3600mhz kit for like $75 when ddr5 came out. I am ballin ngl
BudgetBuilder17@reddit
Its why newegg had a 64gb kit push for some team group and viper kits few weeks ago. Now the $100 kit 3200 Cl16 i got is out of stock with no backorder notice.
no6969el@reddit
It seems to always happen whenever they produce less of them. The whole supply and demand situation. These are the times where it's best to upgrade to the next system and sell your other parts for inflated prices because they're rare and people just might need it to finish a system or upgrade a system.
Gambit-47@reddit (OP)
Yeah, people are probably going to panic buy and scalpers are probably going to scalp. I hope regular people notice what is happening in time and prepare for the change
Naerven@reddit
At least two of the four memory manufacturers have ceased production of ddr4 in favor of the current generation ddr5. As stock dries up prices will increase a bit. Essentially it's a simple supply and demand situation.
SinisterPixel@reddit
Manufacturers are prioritising DDR5. DDR4 isn't used on newer platforms and even though AM4 is still a popular platform for budget PCs, most people these days go for AM5.
So prices go up due to scarcity. I'd just shoot now tbh. Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals aren't really gonna save you that much if anything on DDR4