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12. March 2026

Framework Faces Third Month Of Rising Ram Prices Amid Global Chip Shortage

Framework Faces Third Month Of Rising Ram Prices Amid Global Chip Shortage

The memory and storage chip shortage continues to affect the technology industry, with modular laptop manufacturer Framework being one of the latest companies to feel the pinch. In its monthly update on the situation, Framework revealed that it will have to increase RAM prices for the third month in a row, with DDR5 SO-DIMMs now costing between $13 to $18 per GB, depending on the capacity.

This is a smaller amount compared to previous increases, which saw RAM prices jump from $10 to $13 per GB in December 2025 to $12 to $16 GB in February — an increase of about $2 to $3 per GB (compared to the $1 to $2 increase this month). While the price hikes may seem manageable, they are still a significant blow to consumers who were already facing rising costs due to the global shortage.

The memory and storage chip shortage is attributed in part to growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, which requires a significant amount of memory and processing power.

To put this in perspective, let’s look at the price fluctuations over the past few months:

  • July 2025: RAM prices ranged from $3.75 to $5 per GB.
  • December 2025: Prices jumped to $10 to $13 per GB, an increase of about $6.25 per GB (166%).
  • February 2026: Prices rose to $12 to $16 per GB, representing a 20% to 24% increase from the previous month.
  • March 2026: RAM prices increased again, this time ranging from $13 to $18 per GB, with an 8.3% to 12.5% rise from the previous month.

Despite these price hikes, Framework remains committed to transparency and has been diligent in releasing updates to keep its customers informed about the situation. The company’s willingness to adapt and adjust its pricing strategy reflects its commitment to providing customers with high-quality products while navigating the complex and unpredictable landscape of global shortages.

However, this latest development also serves as a reminder that Framework is facing significant challenges in sourcing essential components, including memory chips and storage solutions. Seagate’s warning about an “unprecedented supercycle” driven by AI growth highlights the growing importance of memory and storage in modern computing.

Framework has already depleted its inventory of lower-cost components, which has led to the re-pricing of some capacities to reflect the costs it is now paying for new orders. On the bright side, Framework’s existing inventory of 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB SN850X SSDs, one of the best SSDs available in 2026, is “substantially below market.” The company encourages its customers to purchase a Framework Laptop or Desktop right now if they want a lot of storage.

In addition to the memory and storage shortages, Framework is also feeling the pinch when it comes to certain CPU models. The global memory crisis has left affordable tech under siege, with prices skyrocketing for essential components. The company has warned that it’s running out of stock on some Intel processors, including the Intel Core i5-1334U processor used in the Framework Laptop 12 model. This is a concerning development, especially as consumers increasingly demand faster and more powerful processors for their devices.

Increasing CPU demand is one side-effect of the AI infrastructure build-out, particularly as we transition from reasoning AI LLMs to complete agents that require GPUs, NPUs, and CPUs to accomplish complete workflows. Intel has been introducing new CPU models, including Arrow Lake Refresh, Panther Lake, and Nova Lake, which means it’s likely to focus production on these upcoming releases.

Framework’s commitment to transparency is evident in its monthly updates, which have helped build trust with its customers. By keeping them informed about the situation, the company has differentiated itself from other companies that are putting egregious markups on RAM and other parts upgrades.

In conclusion, Framework’s decision to increase RAM prices for the third month in a row highlights the ongoing challenges it faces due to the global shortage of memory chips and storage solutions. While the price hikes may seem manageable, they are still a significant blow to consumers who were already facing rising costs.

However, Framework’s commitment to transparency and its willingness to adapt and adjust its pricing strategy reflect its dedication to providing customers with high-quality products while navigating the complex landscape of global shortages. As the technology industry continues to navigate this challenging situation, it will be interesting to see how other companies respond and whether the shortage begins to subside in the coming months.

In the meantime, Framework’s existing inventory of SSDs provides a welcome relief for customers who are looking for high-capacity storage solutions at reasonable prices. With its commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction, Framework remains a reputable brand that is well-positioned to navigate the challenges of the global shortage.

Original Source

  • [Read the full article here](https://aiwirenews.com/posts/framework-faces-third-month-of-rising-ram-prices-amid-57889c/)
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