AMD expects DDR5 pricing to return to normal in two years

AMD’s David McAfee has predicted when the DDR5 pricing crisis will end

If you’re waiting for DDR5 memory to become more affordable, I’ve got bad news for you. According to an interview with 4Gamers (via Videocardz), David McAfee, the General Manager of the Client Channel and Graphics Business Group at AMD, stated that it would take years for DDR5 pricing to return to normal levels.

DDR5 makers are investing heavily in production, and that expanded capacity will eventually result in lower prices. Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix, and Chinese manufacturers like CXMT are all expanding their DDR5 production. Unfortunately, it takes years to build new DDR5 manufacturing sites, so it will be a while before there is enough supply to meet demand.

McAfee expects DDR5 pricing to recover slowly as DDR5 production ramps. He expects DDR5 prices to return to normal in 2028.

Although DDR5 memory is still quite expensive, David expects prices to recover slowly in the future. After all, the memory market has always been volatile, but this time it will take longer, about two years, to return to normal levels.

– 4Gamers

When discussing AMD’s AM5 platform and its successor, McAfee confirmed that the successor would come with higher costs. Using more pins or a different CPU pin layout would increase costs. As such, AMD only plans to move to a new socket when it is necessary for its products. AMD is also reportedly evaluating if AMD can support new standards like PCIe 6.0.

At Computex, AMD confirmed it would support socket AM5 until 2029. This signals that AMD has no plans to move to a new “AM6” CPU socket anytime soon, or move to next-generation DDR6 memory. With support until 2029, AMD’s AM5 socket is expected to support the company’s Zen 6 and Zen 7 processors. That would be good news for upgraders, assuming that AMD’s early AM5 motherboards will support these new CPUs.

You can join the discussion on AMD’s expectations for DDR5 memory pricing on the OC3D Forums.