Price Check Q3 2016: DRAM Prices Down Over 20% Since Early 2016
by Anton Shilov on July 25, 2016 12:01 AM ESTHigh-Speed DDR4 Pricing
Coming up next are higher-speed DDR4 modules. In fact, the difference between prices of DDR4-2133/2400 devices and DDR4-3000 modules is relatively small. The latter retail for around $65 to $80 while delivering considerably higher official rated performance than the officially supported frequencies by today’s processors (meaning modules with 2133 and 2400 MT/s data rates).
G.Skill's Ripjaws V DDR4-3000/CL15 2x8 GB (F4-3000C15D-16GVGB) Kit
For example, G.Skill's Ripjaws V DDR4-3000/CL15 2x8 GB kit (F4-3000C15D-16GVGB) costs $61.99 at Newegg and $72.79 at Amazon.
Patriot’s Viper 4 DDR4-3000/CL16 2x8 GB (PV416G300C6K) Kit
Meanwhile, Patriot’s Viper 4 DDR4-3000/CL16 16 GB (2x8 GB) kit (PV416G300C6K) can be purchased for $79.99 at Amazon, down from over $100 several months ago (but up from $63.99 in June). DDR4-3000 kits from companies like Crucial, Corsair, Kingston cost about the same, or they are only slightly pricier. Nonetheless, they are all lower than the prices six months ago.
G.Skill’s Ripjaws V DDR4-3200/CL16 16 GB (2×8 GB) Kits
Starting at DDR4-3200, memory sticks for overclockers get somewhat more expensive: the most affordable models retail for $75 to $90. This happens because not all DRAM chips can operate at such data rates. Still, if you want extra frequency without major overprices, DDR4 kits rated for 3200 MT/s are products to consider. Moreover, prices of such products decline pretty fast as well, as shown by G.Skill’s Ripjaws V DDR4-3200/CL16 16 GB (2×8 GB) kits (F4-3200C16D-16GVK and F4-3200C16D-16GVGB) These used to cost $120 in January, but which can now be purchased starting at $75.95 from a partner of Amazon or for $71.99 from Newegg.
G.Skill's Ripjaws V DDR4-3600/CL17 2×8 GB Kit (F4-3600C17D-16GVK)
Memory modules rated to run at 3600 MT/s cost nearly two times more than the most affordable DDR4-3000 devices: they are priced starting from $115 to $135 at Amazon and Newegg. Nonetheless, market trends fully affect prices of such modules as well: the G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4-3600/CL17 16 GB (2×8 GB) kit (F4-3600C17D-16GVK) retailed for $275.99 in early 2016, but right now the kit is available for $126.50 at Amazon and for $115 from Newegg.
Corsair's Vengeance LPX and G.Skill's Trident Z at DDR4-4000+
DRAM modules capable of running at 4000 MT/s and higher are available only from two vendors, and they are intended mostly for hardcore enthusiasts as well as those that want to conduct extreme overclocking experiments. Prices of such modules remain very high regardless of market trends because very few DRAM ICs can operate at such frequencies - it subsequently takes module manufacturers a lot of time to cherry pick the right chips to build such modules. So far, only G.Skill has introduced a 16 GB (2×8 GB) dual-channel DDR4-4133/CL19 kit, the TridentZ F4-4133C19D-16GTZA. This product is currently available for $370 from an Amazon partner and for $220 at Newegg. It is noteworthy that retailers started to sell this kit very recently and we do not have any data regarding its price fluctuations yet.
When it comes to blazing-fast 8 GB (2×4 GB) dual-channel DDR4-4266/CL19 memory kits, there are two options available today:
G.Skill’s TridentZ F4-4266C19D-8GTZ for $338 at Amazon and for $280 at Newegg
Corsair’s Vengeance LPX CMK8GX4M2B4266C19(R) for $322.44 at Amazon and for $285 at Newegg.
These kits have gotten a fair bit cheaper recently, yet they are still very expensive.
Now, let’s take a look at larger kits designed for HEDT systems. Due to the intrinsic nature of the quad-channel memory controllers inside Core i7 Extreme Haswell-E and Broadwell-E processors, HEDT kits do not boast with extremely high frequencies. This is because it is harder to qualify four modules at high
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
37 Comments
View All Comments
Minion4Hire - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
JoeyJoJo, just select 180 days instead of 120 on that first chart you link to and you'll see quite clearly that Anandtech's reporting is correct. Compared to the beginning of the year, the current prices are lower. Sure, there have been even lower prices than right now, but prices are still lower than they were 7 months ago.milli - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
Here in Belgium the same. Prices are up massively. 20 to 40%yuhong - Tuesday, July 26, 2016 - link
DRAMeXchange also shows a higher price for 4Gbit DDR4 than months ago, while 4Gbit DDR3 prices did not increase as much. I noticed that 8Gbit DDR4 is getting close to crossover now.yuhong - Friday, July 29, 2016 - link
8Gbit DDR4 has hit crossover on DRAMeXchange. At the time of this writing, "DDR4 8Gb 1Gx8 2133 MHZ" is at $3.664 and "DDR4 4Gb 512Mx8 2133 MHz" is at $1.836.iwod - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
Not really interested in consumer DRAM pricing, I mean they are already very very cheap. And it is properly more interesting for LPDDR4 to drop price, since that will be use in some Laptop, Smartphone and Tablets.More interested would be 32GB DIMM and 128GB DIMM drop price, so we can fit 128GB to 1TB Memory on server for very cheap. SQL and Cache Servers.
Flunk - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
Past trends don't show much connection between the price of DRAM and Nand on phones and tablets. Most of the time then manufacturer pockets the difference.yuhong - Tuesday, July 26, 2016 - link
Interestingly, even 32GB DDR3 LR-DIMMs has been dropping in price. I wonder if this is due to oversupply.tipoo - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
Offset a bit by the CAD being down to 76 cents American now :(Story of my life is piece together a nice mid range PC on PCpartpicker, oh nice I got it under 1000 - crap, forgot to hit the Canadian flag. Price is now 33% higher plus 15% tax plus the "we hate canadians" markup companies like to do despite nafta. Delete build and cry self to sleep. Repeat monthly.
JoeyJoJo123 - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
Nobody hates Canada; That's just the price of doing business there in Canada, along with the taxes and other such exchange related problems that businesses are facing and then unfortunately have to reflect down to you, the consumer.If you're upset about Newegg charging you ~40% more than the American website does, then either go across the border and have your parts purchased and mailed there for cheap, or complain to your government officials about the relatively weak Canadian dollar. This really just boils down to economic policy and what your government is doing about it.
andrewaggb - Monday, July 25, 2016 - link
Well to be fair, the whole 'buy america' thing comes across as 'hates Canada'. There's some pretty ridiculous stuff that has resulted, like tearing down a bridge for too much Canadian Steel and stuff like that. And Obama really had it out for the Alberta pipeline, despite plenty of US oil projects and pipelines being built.Anyways, I doubt our current government will do much to improve the $. I think it's more about social policy, child care, etc this time around.