The RAM Report — Issue #003
The HBM Squeeze
May 14, 2026HBM, AI, supply-shift
DDR4
$52.49
DDR5
$94.99
HBM
$289
Inventory
2.8w
The HBM Problem
One H100 GPU uses 6 HBM3E stacks. Each stack consumes 3× the wafer area of standard DDR5. NVIDIA shipped 1.5M H100s in 2025. 2026 estimates: 3M+.
Capacity Math
2024: Commodity DRAM 75%, HBM 15%. 2026: Commodity 55%, HBM 35%. PC builders now compete with NVIDIA for the same silicon.
What To Do
This isn't temporary — it's structural. Buy on dips, don't wait for 'normal'. Budget 20–30% more for 2027 builds.
Not financial advice. Data sourced from retail APIs, TrendForce, and manufacturer reports.
RAM Report — RAM price intelligence for PC builders, IT buyers, and system integrators.