The relentless climb of RAM prices is reshaping the landscape of consumer technology, impacting everything from high-end gaming rigs to the humble hobbyist computer. For months, this trend has been building, and now even the beloved Raspberry Pi is feeling the strain, facing its second price increase in just two months.
The driving force behind this surge isn’t typical consumer demand, but the insatiable appetite of “AI” applications. Just two months ago, the Raspberry Pi Foundation reluctantly increased prices on several Pi 4 and Pi 5 models by $5 to $25. In response, they introduced a new, more affordable $45 model – but it’s limited to just one gigabyte of memory.
Now, further increases are hitting the higher-capacity models. The 2GB Pi models are up $10, 4GB models jump $15, 8GB models rise by $30, and the 16GB versions now cost a staggering $60 more. Even the all-in-one Raspberry Pi 500 and 500+ kits are affected by these escalating costs.
A glimmer of hope remains for some users. The Pi Zero, Pi 3, and older products are holding steady, benefiting from stockpiles of older memory chips. However, the price comparison paints a stark picture of the current reality.
Consider these changes: a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB of RAM went from $55 to $75. The 8GB version jumped from $75 to $115. The new Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB now carries a price tag of $205, a $60 increase from its previous cost of $120.
Raspberry Pi isn’t alone in this struggle. Framework, a company focused on modular and repairable computers, has repeatedly increased the price of its RAM modules. Even Nvidia, a giant in the graphics card industry, appears to be scaling back production of consumer cards, prioritizing the more lucrative data center market.
The consequences are far-reaching, impacting manufacturers and consumers alike. Partners like Zotac are reportedly feeling the pressure as prices skyrocket and supply chains become strained. The demand for memory is being fueled by applications that, for many, offer questionable benefits.
Despite the grim outlook, Raspberry Pi’s founder and CEO, Eben Upton, remains optimistic. He believes the current situation is temporary and that prices will eventually return to normal once the demand from the AI sector stabilizes. For now, however, the cost of building and upgrading continues to climb.
The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the current RAM shortage is a powerful reminder of how interconnected the technology world is, and how quickly external forces can impact even the most beloved and accessible devices.
