Memory prices stable for the past few months

[jtr1962]

Is it just me, or does it seem like RAM prices have been at their least volatile(at least by my memory-no pun intended) during the last few months? I've been checking RAM prices on Pricewatch on a fairly regular basis. After the price dipped to very low levels(a stick of PC133 256 MB for $10), and shot back up a bit(I think the same part reached about $35), it seems to have been stabilized at about $25 for the last few months, if not longer. It's also nice that it stabilized at something fairly reasonable rather than something like $200.

Anybody know the reasons behind this, or why RAM prices in general seem to be so volatile? CPU prices, on the other hand, are always steadily downwards after a new part is released, with a few notable exceptions(PIII 1000 MHz 100 FSB slot 1 comes to mind). Most other types of ICs don't really seem to have much price fluctuation. Some logic ICs have been at around the same price for decades.

 

[blakerwry]

RAM prices did drop a few months ago... I bought my pc2700 $10 cheaper than it was when i researched what I wanted (took about 1 week for the prices to go down)... since then I think there has been another price drop...

Which makes me wonder why you think prices are so stable.. maybe it's just the retailers i'm looking at... or maybe just yours...

 

[Stereodude]

Actually it looks like RAM is starting it's slide down now.

Stereodude

 

[CougTek]

In fact, the RAM prices have fluctuated a lot during the last few months. As Stereodude wrote, the DDR SDRAM prices are falling these days, but since they are at they lowest level ever, I don't believe it will last for very long. SDRAM prices have hit their bottom this Fall, probably in November, but have since risen 60% or more. Even in November, they have not hit the rock bottom price they were some two years ago, when I remember being able to buy a 512MB stick of SDRAM for a scant 65$CAN.

DDR SDRAM prices were low at the end of Spring /beginning of summer but rose in July or August to reach outrageous levels. DDR SDRAM cost too much all Fall and have finally become more affordable since mid-January.

Now and the upcoming month probably is the time to buy if you were looking for DDR SDRAM modules.

 

[jtr1962]

I guess it is just me, then. Probably since I don't have any machines that use DDR I just look at the price of PC133, and that seems to have fewer fluctuations than the other types.