DRAM & Flash Memory Price Surge: Impact on Mini PCs

DRAM & flash memory prices are spiking due to supply constraints & market panic. Minisforum raises prices. Will other PC makers follow? Expect potential shortages & higher costs.

TrendForce, which sees the temporary “area” market in Asia, recently reported that the cost of a 16Gbit DDR4-3200 DRAM chip has actually surged by 15.9 percent in just a week. That isn’t aided by the fact that DDR4 memory manufacturing is winding down, limiting the readily available supply. Straightforward economics says that prices will enhance therefore.

DRAM Price Surge Explained

The firm did not claim how much rates would be impacted, and whether the price walkings were a temporary change or simply an overall increase. In the meantime, other mini computer manufacturers (in addition to laptop computer and desktop PC manufacturers) haven’t done the same, leaving open the inquiry of whether or not Minisforum’s choice was an isolated one or whether it’s the proverbial canary in the coal mine, signaling disaster.

And with flash drives currently conveniently topping two terabytes and even more, all of these price enhances include up.).

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TrendForce, which views the short-term “area” market in Asia, just recently reported that the price of a 16Gbit DDR4-3200 DRAM chip has increased by 15.9 percent in just a week. Easy business economics states that rates will increase as a result.

Minisforum, a maker of desktop mini Computers, said that it’s increasing costs as a result of an increase in “basic material” part prices. The wrongdoers seem rising DRAM and flash memory costs, where the market is beginning to act and worry upon possible shortages.

“Component houses with inventory are now keeping back, more pushing prices up swiftly,” the company claimed. “From the buyers’ point of view, although the need for consumer electronics has not notably recovered, there is a solid motivation to keep safe stock degrees because of assumptions of large and recurring rate walkings.”

It’s all a little unnerving, specifically as we look ahead into the vacations and traditional Black Friday sales. Will various other computer manufacturers comply with Minisforum’s lead? In between the shortages caused by hyperscalers and other AI business, it’s starting to resemble holiday offers might be harder to locate in 2025.

Flash Memory Market Panic

Blink memory for SSDs hasn’t run away, either– the marketplace appears to be panicking a little bit, ordering readily available flash memory simply to have it available, which additionally deteriorates market conditions. “Due to reduced availability of spots, as well as the basic market agreement on additional area for increment in 4Q25, buyers are now leaning towards taking products to protect their inventory, which even more escalated the constraints of spots,” TrendForce created.

Spots of 512Gb tender loving care wafers increased by 27.96 percent this week, reaching $4.576, the company located. (Remember, these are 512Gbit chips, so 8 of them would be needed to develop a 512GB flash drive. And with flash drives currently easily covering 2 terabytes and even more, all of these cost increases add up.).

Minisforum’s Price Adjustment

Last evening, Minisforum published a notification on X (through Tom’s Equipment) mentioning the company would apply a “slight rate adjustment as a result of increasing international material costs.” Notably, the company mentioned that the “barebone (bare system) versions and products without DDR5 memory and/or SSD will not be affected by this change currently.”

Will various other PC manufacturers comply with Minisforum’s lead?