DRAM production is not as exclusive as cutting-edge processors, held solely by Taiwan. There are multiple global players that manufacture primary memory, making its supply more stable.

At least, that’s how it usually works. But the changes in technology mean that sometimes the companies induce artificial scarcity, and that’s what is happening with DDR4 right now.

The New Standard

DDR5 has been out for a while, and there are rumors of DDR6 rolling out this year as well, with the completely new HBR also in the works. As such, manufacturers are starting to push for increased adoption of the new tech, replacing DDR4 memory.

The problem is that many systems are still running on DDR4 and are not looking to jump ship any time soon. Keep in mind that the RAM cannot be upgraded without a completely new motherboard, so this isn’t a trivial change.

Enterprise systems, as a rule of thumb, are meant to last for a long period without requiring an upgrade. As a result, there are many recent setups that rely on DDR4 and are otherwise rated to continue functioning for several years to come.

The Production Switch

Whenever demand outstrips supply, prices rise, and that’s exactly what we are seeing for DDR4 right now. As news trickles out of all major US and Korean suppliers cutting production, prices have shot up astronomically.

Panic buying by most customers has further exacerbated the issue, with OEMs having to shell out as much as 60–85% more to secure DR4 memory modules. And the situation is only set to worsen, with all DRAM manufacturers announcing they will continue paring down the DDR4 production in every quarter.

This, in addition to the already tenuous tariff situation, means that DDR4-based embedded PCs have gotten way more expensive in the US. This is especially an issue for companies that have already invested heavily in a DDR4 architecture and cannot upgrade to the next tier anytime soon.

Silver Lining

The only good news is that while the giants like Samsung, Hynix, and Micron have announced they will reduce DDR4 production, they have also committed to continue supporting industrial clients for at least another year.

Even at higher prices, it is still possible to procure DDR4 memory, coming as a big relief to many embedded PC manufacturers. There is also the fact that as more products switch to DDR5, the demand will ease a bit, stabilizing the price point eventually.

Should You Upgrade to DDR5?

If you are considering procuring a new industrial computing setup, you should definitely go for a board that supports DDR5 to future-proof your investment. The next generation that replaces DDR5 isn’t even out yet, so you are guaranteed a steady supply of this memory for the rest of its life cycle.

Similarly, if you were looking to upgrade your existing setup soon, it might be better to transition to a newer motherboard instead of trying to find the increasingly scarce components for the old one. A new motherboard would not only support DDR5 memory but also the newer generation of processors with improved performance.

But if you are dealing with an embedded setup with a few years still left in it, you have no choice but to deal with the increased prices. Do make sure to speak with your embedded systems provider to arrange for replacements while the production still continues, and work on the eventual transition plan.

The higher prices will put a bigger dent in your pocket, but that’s still more efficient than ditching an enterprise system with half of its lifecycle still remaining.