DDR4 Module Prices Overtake DDR5 for the First Time

Usually for newer technology rollout, prices are significantly higher compared to the last-gen. However, with DRAM, the story is the opposite. For the first time since the launch of DDR5, buyers are paying more for DDR4 memory modules than for the newer standard. A combination of tariff uncertainty and rapidly depleting DDR4 inventories is the main driver behind this. TrendForce data show that some high-demand DDR4 kits rose by as much as 40% in just one week, while DRAMeXchange reports that the average spot price for a 16 Gb (1Gx16) DDR4 module at 3,200 MT/s from Samsung and SK Hynix climbed to $12.50, with peak offers hitting $24. By contrast, dual-8 Gb DDR5 kits running between 4,800 MT/s and 5,600 MT/s remain near $6 on average, rarely exceeding $9. This unexpected surge follows Micron’s announcement that it will wind down DDR4 production by year’s end, accelerating the depletion of existing stocks over the next six to nine months.

Samsung also announced plans earlier this spring to retire its DDR4 lines and shift its focus to DDR5 and high-bandwidth memory, while China’s CXMT confirmed it will scale back its DDR4 output despite recently reaching peak production levels. Taiwan’s Nanya Technology is among the biggest beneficiaries of this topsy-turvy market. In the first quarter, the company held a DDR4 inventory valued at approximately NT$37.6 billion ($1.2 billion). Nanya even paused public price quoting to manage sales at these elevated levels. Many in the tech industry worry that renewed US-China trade tensions could spark another wave of panic buying. If additional tariffs target China’s remaining DDR4 supply, module costs could climb to more than three times the price of DDR5, extending this rare pricing inversion well into the next quarter.