Mastodawn

DRAM pricing is killing the hobbyist SBC market

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/dram-pricing-is-killing-the-hobbyist-sbc-market/

DRAM pricing is killing the hobbyist SBC market

Today Raspberry Pi announced more price increases for all Pis with LPDDR4 RAM, alongside a 'right-sized' 3GB RAM Pi 4 for $83.75. The price increases bring the 16GB Pi 5 up to $299.99. Despite today's date, this is not a joke. I published a video going over the state of the hobbyist 'high end SBC' market (4/8/16 GB models in the current generation), which I'll embed below: But if you'd like the tl;dr:

Jeff Geerling

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JollySharp0 5d ago

There are ups and downs in the prices of components. Often people forget that during COVID prices were high for SBCs because of supply chain issues. Video cards just were not available in the UK and afterwards (every supplier had long lead times) and are still relatively expensive (at least there are now lower priced options). Raspberry Pis you couldn't get hold of and many people (Jeff Included) was using a website checking for availability which was non-existent for anything other than low end models.

I remember 15-20 years ago when hard drive prices went up through the roof because there was a flood in Thailand and it too years for prices to come down.

There is going to be supply chain issues due to the current Geopolitical situation (Helium comes out of the Gulf and that is need in chip manufacture) is also going to affect the price of components.

Eventually in a few years (as the article states) the situation will change. It just sucks at the moment.

TBH I am more worried about my ability to fill up the tank on my car as both Petrol and Diesel is unavailable locally. I can make do with whatever computer equipment I have.

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zozbot234 5d ago

> People are quick to forget that during COVID prices were high for SBCs because of supply chain issues.

inb4 AI has the same supply chain effects as a worldwide pandemic. I guess those AI doomers that talked about it being the end of the world had it right!

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JollySharp0 5d ago

Doomers IMO are just click baiting.

There is a saying that is often trotted out my economists "That the cure for high prices, is high prices".

There is a consumer market and business need for DRAM outside of AI. Someone will fulfil the need as there is a high incentive to. It just going to take a bit of time for this to happen. My equipment is going to be fine for another few years. So I am going to just hang tight and make do with what I got for now.

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Chyzwar 5d ago

Main producers actually reduced dram output in 2026. When you have few players with very high capital cost you will end up with cartels like light bulb cartel.

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JollySharp0

Someone will come in when the price goes up enough. It will take time, but it will happen. What people are complaining about is that the time for this to happen is too long.

Oh look, there is a player coming into the market it seems:

https://economy.ac/news/2026/02/202602288291#:~:text=If%20eq...

EDIT: In fact many other chinese companies are now expanding into DRAM because of the high prices. Which confirms exactly what I said.

CXMT Gears Up Post-IPO, Setting Stage for Four-Player DRAM Reshuffle

As China’s largest DRAM producer, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), moves toward an initial public offering, attention across the semiconductor market has converged on the company. CXMT plans to deploy IPO proceeds to improve yield rates in existing processes and expand production lines. After years of losses, the company returned to profitability last year, strengthening the financial rationale for listing. With memory supply shortages persisting, expansion incentives for DRAM makers have increased, and CXMT’s post-IPO capital execution could reshape competitive dynamics.

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