You may have heard rumours about rising RAM prices, and we can confirm they are true. Unfortunately, this trend is not limited to RAM; prices are also increasing for other hardware categories, including laptops, servers, desktops, GPUs, and SSDs. And this is not just limited to Australia, but rather a global one and has started affecting organisations and consumers alike.
This phenomenon is named the RAMageddon, referring to the worldwide surge in memory pricing driven by shortages due to heightened demand from AI data centres and production slowdowns. Projections for 2026 suggest RAM price increases could reach 100–200%.
It's important to note that this is a market anomaly that will have lasting effects on business IT from hardware procurement to operational continuity.
So, what’s causing the significant RAM price increase (over a short period of time)?
The sudden spike in IT hardware prices is not a short-term trend. According to industry reports, three major factors are driving up global RAM prices, along with other hardware categories:
1. AI data centres are consuming the global RAM supply
Since the explosive growth of AI in 2022, RAM prices have steadily risen. The introduction of AI chatbots like Copilot, Gemini, and Claude has further intensified this demand.
AI data centres require vast amounts of high-performing memory to operate machine learning models at scale. As a result, manufacturers have prioritised production for hyperscalers (Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon), leaving less RAM available for businesses and consumers.
Take Micron as an example. As a major supplier of semiconductor memory and data storage products, they’ve announced that they're exiting the consumer market altogether to focus on AI data centre demand. This shift alone has contributed to around a 30% drop in market-wide supply.
2. RAM demands are rising across industries
The digital era has increased the demand for IT hardware across various sectors, including healthcare, accounting, legal, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. This makes the hardware shortage and RAM prices a multi-industry issue, rather than a tech one.
3. The global tech supply chain is still recovering
The supply chain has faced significant disruptions, especially due to the recent pandemic.
As hardware manufacturers struggle to meet demand, production speeds have not kept pace, resulting in fewer devices available in local stock and pending orders for built-to-order devices. This inconsistency has contributed to the 100–200% spike in hardware prices.
How long will RAM prices keep increasing? And will RAM prices go down soon?
Don’t be surprised knowing that RAM prices won’t be going down soon.
Prices for RAM and other IT hardware are expected to stay volatile for several years, as manufacturers concentrate on supplying hardware for AI data centres. Standard RAM uses less silicon wafer capacity than the more profitable high-bandwidth memory (HBM), so it sits lower on the production priority list, ultimately restricting RAM availability for consumers and businesses.
That’s why waiting for RAM prices to go down won’t be ideal. Instead, consider making hardware purchases while availability is still manageable.
What does the RAM price increase mean for Aussie SMEs?
Higher device costs
With RAM prices on the rise, you’ll see higher costs flow through to laptops, desktops, servers, firewalls, and SSDs. For Aussie SMEs working with tight budgets, this translates into steeper upfront spend on new devices, more expensive upgrades, and fewer affordable entry-level options available to you.
Longer shipping times
On top of higher prices, you’ll also need to prepare for longer wait times for new hardware.
Many vendors are moving to a build-to-order model because of ongoing supply chain issues and memory shortages. If your business needs specific device configurations, expect lead times to stretch by several weeks (or even months) before your hardware arrives.
Increase risk in security and productivity
RAM prices rising is the least of your problems.
If you’re relying on ageing hardware that struggles with modern software or slows down your team, the resulting drop in productivity and potential incompatibility issues can quickly turn into real financial losses.
Falling behind on hardware refresh cycles is simply not an option for 2026 and beyond.
What you can do now before the RAM price increase
As the RAMageddon crisis reshapes our IT budgets and plans, it’s essential to adapt to this challenge to make the best of the situation for your business.
Here are some strategic steps you can take:
Talk to your IT partner ASAP
Speaking with your IT partner as soon as you read this blog puts you ahead of hardware and RAM price increases. It also helps you avoid unpredictable lead times that could disrupt your hectic timelines.
An Office Solutions IT Virtual CIO can:
- Provide hardware price forecasts
- Evaluate business devices
- Plan procurement timelines & strategies
- Build a custom hardware budget
Order early to lock in pre-increase hardware prices
Place orders for your SME before devices break down or stocks sell out.
Ordering early can potentially save you thousands of dollars and offer better lead times. It’s expected that hardware and RAM prices will increase by 100-200% by 2026, so it’s wise to act before price volatility impacts your business, whether through price surges, longer shipping timelines, or both.
Early ordering also ensures your projects don’t get delayed and your team receives new devices when needed.
Refresh ageing hardware before the next price increase
RAM prices continue rising and won’t likely stop until 2027 or later. So if you're considering waiting for prices to stabilise, be aware that it might take a long time.
However, your business cannot afford to wait. Older hardware may struggle with new updates and software, all of which are required to maintain compliance with modern security standards.
By proactively refreshing your hardware devices, you can:
- Minimise the impact of hardware & RAM price increase
- Ensure operational continuity against hardware failures
- Reduce cyber security risk from ageing hardware
- Prevent long delivery delays
- Protect your 2026 IT budget
Staying ahead of RAMageddon is a necessity (at this point)
We’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to stay ahead of rising hardware and RAM prices is to act now. That means proactively discussing with your IT partner about early orders to lock in pre-increase prices and refreshing aging hardware to avoid anticipated long delivery delays.
SMEs that are proactive with their IT, whether concerning cybersecurity, infrastructure, or hardware procurement, can maintain operational effectiveness during a crisis while avoiding the highest risks and costs to their IT budget.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Acting now is your greatest advantage. Contact an Office Solutions IT Partner today to stay ahead of hardware price increases!
