Samsung has increased the prices of its memory chips in South Korea, driving a significant surge in the cost of DDR4 components. Notably, the price increase for these older-generation modules has surpassed that of the current DDR5 technology. This market shift is primarily driven by Intel’s decision to resume production of its legacy processors.
With the rise in the demand, prices of Samsung’s DDR4 modules saw a noticeable increase.
The current pricing instability in the hardware market, which some observers are calling a “RAMmagedon,” is characterized by simultaneous cost increases for both DDR4 and DDR5 technologies. In South Korea, the price of a 16GB DDR4 module escalated by 19% within a single month, rising from $105.70 to $126. Defying standard market trends, where older technology typically depreciates, DDR4 experienced a sharper value appreciation compared to DDR5, which saw a comparatively modest 10% increase over the same period.
Samsung DDR4 16GB / DDR5 16GB in Korea
The final consumer market price has been increase in last month… pic.twitter.com/uly4XptKIg— 포시포시 (@harukaze5719) July 6, 2026
This upward price trajectory is fueled by Intel’s strategic initiative to restart production for its 10th through 14th-generation processors, alongside preparations for the launch of the “Raptor Lake NEXT” lineup. Furthermore, motherboard manufacturers, in collaboration with various suppliers, have boosted the production of DDR4-compatible boards. This increased hardware availability has sustained high demand for the legacy memory components.
A critical factor in this dynamic is that Samsung implemented the price hikes directly on the underlying memory silicon. As a result, the financial impact has transitioned immediately to end-consumer products. Beyond memory chips, broader component shortages continue to impact the tech manufacturing industry. In response to these ongoing supply chain challenges and changing economic realities, Samsung has also introduced a more affordable solid-state drive (SSD) model to cater to budget-conscious consumers.
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