DRAM Memory Module Computer RAM Market Trends Prices Commentary

Chattering is being heard around the DRAM maker water coolers about DE-COMMITTING on prices and supply to tier one computer OEMs like HP, Dell and others. With the beating the likes of Samsung, Hynix, Micron, Qimonda and Elpida have taken it seems they have perhaps pulled out the stick to draw a line in the DRAM sand in the aim of higher prices. DDR (1) is hot in the broker and spot markets, with resellers scambling to aquire 1GB Unbuffered DIMMs at prices above $30.00 for pulled, refurbished and third party modules while quotes on 1GB Unbuffered DDR2 DIMMs are $11.00 plus.It seems that finally the 64-bit Vista and hunger for larger memory has finally started to grab, to bad the DRAM guys had two years of over production.  If DRAM suppliers cut supply and claim to have no parts tier one OEMs will move to large independent stocking distributors to find supply and the market could run up.Online prices for DDR at online retailers have moved up in the past weeks. Many brokers have lost edge and or are out of the business in the past year or so, which will create less spot market speculation which will keep the cards in the hands of the DRAM makers. 

As the mass production of memory chips at Dresden is on hold starting April 1, 2009. The memory market seems stable to flat. If any shortness appears, it may only show in higher end 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM and Unbuffered modules as Micron shows tighter supply. With the new release of the Mac Pro and later generation iMac and MacBook Pro computers from Apple and higher powerered XPS machines from Dell the market may be stable on higher density module upgrades. Hynix seems to be the only avail supplier of genuine factory original modules and prices are all over $300.00-$330.00…