Memory crisis is getting so bad that even retro RAM prices are going to the Moon

Due to an AI-driven memory crisis prioritizing production of high-margin HBM and server DRAM, hardware makers are turning to older DDR2 and DDR3 components as alternatives, driving up prices for legacy memory by 55-60% in Q2 2026. Supply shortages of mainstream DRAM for PCs and smartphones have forced some manufacturers to downgrade product specifications to older memory generations to control costs. Major capacity expansions from suppliers like SK hynix and Micron won't arrive until 2027-2028, leaving the market tight in the near term.