Framework Announces Second DDR5 and Storage Price Increase Due to Supplier Costs
Framework has been announcing for the second time some price adjustments in DDR5 and storage modules for the Framework Laptop DIY Edition occasioned by the RAM crisis. The backstory as per the company was that its suppliers put forward a price probably owing to the cost increases experienced from the market volatile situation and lack of the said supplies themselves.
Framework's New DDR5 Pricing Structure
Framework promptly communicated another significantly altered DDR5 price with hindsight quickly revealing supplier costs now above 3-5 times higher a year ago. The new structure was the weighted average cost of inventory holding DDR5.
- The cost for 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB DDR5 modules is set at about $10 per gigabyte.
- Slightly higher pricing for 48GB modules.
New DDR5 price points are designed to reflect their real additional costs while bearing some of the costs themselves. Although Framework states it could be the cheapest price retail has to offer, it is still way short of Apple at $25 per gigabyte.
Why Are Memory Prices Soaring? Supply and Demand Dynamics
The whole memory story is a tale of a deficit due to high demand.
- AI: High requirement specifically addresses memory kinks. The rapidly growing AI data centers have an appetite for a lot of memory. Framework gives an example that a single rack of NVIDIA'S GB300 solution provides enough LPDDR5X memory for about a thousand laptops.
- Supply: The three major manufacturers-Micron, SK Hynix, Samsung-are wary of increasing wafer capacity due to historical market volatility. Add to this the fact that every time, it is fair to say there is huge baggage to clear in setting up new production capacity for woefully outdated machines. Not only that, there has been a scramble to ensure the highest value for money, so memory gets the most out of the memory production capacity; in terms of pricing, prices of the remaining inventory memory and finished goods are quietly moving to depletion.
Storage Prices Also on the Rise
During the same time when memory prices were in continuous escalation, storage costs too climbed sharply, all in a few weeks. If the purchase cost from suppliers goes on increasing, the storage price is going to follow the trend into early 2026.
