Printable View
There's a DRAM shortage, apparently. That means prices go up, and it's hitting 2nd tier OEMs, says Digi Times:http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20060920A5019.htmlQuote:
A persistent DRAM shortage continues to boost DRAM average selling prices (ASPs) causing some second-tier PC OEMs to even pay 10% more than previous quotes in September, according to Nanya spokesperson and vice president of global sales and marketing Pei-lin Pai.
Major annoyance. How long is this likely to last?
Bah just as I am going to upgrade :(
Normally lasts a few months whenever this happens :(
Probably ain't going to drop again until after xmas now, would be my guess at least....and it normally gets worse before it gets better.
The cynical amongst us will feel that between now and just after Christmas will be a big buying time for many wanting to upgrade with new kit now Core 2 Duo is out, proven, and available in volume. So all of them will require new RAM - so there is an excuse to cash-in so they will.
However we must remember that these price rises making RAM 'expensive' are relative - what did we have to (and were willing to) pay 3, or even 2 years ago for 1Gb (2*512) - and current 'high' aren't really so very high.
Even with a 10% increase, RAM is reduculously cheap compaired to what it used to be. Although, i can see this causing problems if OEMs are commited to selling at a set price, a 10% increase in that one component costs will have a dramaitc effect on their teeny tiny margins.
I remember being amazed when the computer shop i worked in started selling memory at £1/MB. that was 72pin EDO SIMMS :) When the advert hit the local free-sheets we sold more memory over the counter in a weekend than we normally sold in a fortnight, including the customer builds.