DDR4 and DDR3 Memory Prices Expected to Rise as DRAM Shortage Spreads

Older DRAM standards are now feeling the pressure from the wider memory shortage, as DDR4 and DDR3 prices are expected to rise sharply through the second half of 2026. The situation has become more serious because demand from PCs, enterprise SSDs, and data centers continues to grow while major memory makers shift production toward DDR5 and premium AI-focused products.

DigiTimes reports that Q3 2026 memory contract prices are still being finalized, but supply chain sources now expect the increases to be much higher than earlier estimates. DDR4 8Gb DRAM prices are expected to surge by more than 50% in the quarter, while DDR5 and Flash memory are also facing strong price pressure.

The shortage has hit DDR4 because many PC vendors still depend on it for affordable systems, especially as weaker PC demand pushes companies to keep costs under control. At the same time, enterprise SSD makers also need DRAM for caching, faster response times, and better overall performance, which adds more pressure on available supply.

A bigger issue comes from production shifts across the memory industry. Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron have reduced focus on older DRAM standards and moved toward DDR5, HBM, and other premium memory products used in AI servers. That leaves companies like Nanya Technology and Winbond Electronics handling much of the remaining DDR4 production, but their output is not enough to meet global demand.

DDR3 is also getting affected because suppliers focusing on DDR4 have reduced older DDR3 capacity. As a result, 4Gb DDR3 prices are rising, and in July 2026, DDR3 already costs more per gigabit than some DDR5 products.

Industry estimates suggest that DDR5, DDR4, and DDR3 prices will keep rising as long as shortages continue, with pressure likely lasting into 2028.