or that retailers have been pushing models with worse specs for the same price as older, premium models with better specs. This is not coincidental, but an effect of manufacturers pooling resources towards AI and away from consumer electronics. 

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a form of short-term memory that temporarily stores data to be used by the processor to perform tasks like open and run programs, operating systems, and browse websites. RAM is used in everything from smartphones to gaming consoles, especially in high-demand graphics cards (GPUs), and now in massive data centers, largely driven by the ever-increasing usage of artificial intelligence programs. 

While there are multiple types of RAM, the most common are Video Random Access Memory (VRAM) and Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). 

DRAM is the most relevant form of RAM to the general public, as it is a main component in PCs, smartphones, and many other consumer electronics. PCs commonly use Double Data Rate RAM specified by generation, commonly either DDR4 or what’s considered “modern generation” DDR5. Smartphones and tablets often use Low Powered DDR (LPDDR) for opening applications or completing tasks similar to desktops and laptops. 

VRAM is used directly inside of graphics processing units (GPUs) and is used as temporary memory for visual data, including textures, lighting, frame effects and more. VRAM is used when you want to play video games, edit photos and videos, or open a 3D modeling program. 

High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) is a specialized form of DRAM that’s mainly used in data centers. It’s special architecture allows it to be much more effective for high demand actions, and is much more expensive, which is why it has been prioritized by manufacturers looking to cater to AI data infrastructure and away from consumer electronics.

According to market research foundation Dell’Oro, “Worldwide data center capital expenditures (capex) rose 43% in the second quarter of 2025, driven by a 76% increase in server spending.” Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra GPU is a popular choice for use in data centers, as it utilizes HBM inside of its chip. 

So, what does this all mean for the general consumer? According to Tom’s Hardware, “Memory prices were increasing by up to 50% for Q4 2025, up from the 30% hike buyers had predicted earlier in the year. NAND and DRAM contract prices have been rising by 15-20%. All of this (and more) has compounded into the whopping 171.8% year-over-year price increase we are now seeing in DRAM contract prices.”