Platform WatchJune 24, 2026via ZDNet AI
Why your RAM options cost 4X more now than last year - even legacy tech prices aren't immune
Why it matters
AI infrastructure buildout is creating acute chip scarcity that ripples far beyond the data center—legacy RAM prices are spiking as AI operators monopolize supply, forcing downstream hardware makers and consumers to absorb 4X cost increases.
Key signals
- AI data centers consuming 70% of all memory chips produced in 2026
- RAM prices up 4X year-over-year
- Price increases affecting legacy tech and non-AI hardware
- Supply chain bottleneck driven by AI infrastructure capex
The hook
70%. That's the share of all memory chips AI data centers are consuming this year—and it's reshaping hardware costs across the entire industry.
Meanwhile, AI data centers will mop up 70% of all memory chips produced this year.