RAM Prices - Why So Volatile ?

Nesima

Hi,

I have been looking to buy an extra 512 for my Laptop.
When I first looked it was approximately £37 (+ free 256mb USB memory stick).
Went back to buy last weekend and it had gone up to £53 ! (nothing free).
Yesterday it was £48, went back to order this morning and it has gone up to £51 ?

Why are the prices so volatile ? I don't know what is a good value price, do you ?

I have been looking at crucial, ebuyer, orca etc.
Where would you advise getting good quality good value RAM from ?

Thanks for your help.

superscaper

I'm no expert but I remember some engineering management lectures I had a few years ago and they talked about the transistion of things like memory from typical manufactured goods to becoming a commodity because they are now so prolific. As such commodities are subject to lots of varying factors even share price etc.

superscaper

By the way I don't know if you realised the pun in your title? RAM is a volatile type memory.

slowen

Purchased some RAM from crucial and opted for free delivery and it arrived within 48 hours and at the moment Quidco are offering 10% cashback until the end of September as it is normally 7% and on the Crucial website they have also reduced the prices by 5% so in total you can get 15% discount on RAM

nearlyrich

It's all about supply and demand, not to mention financial year end etc all have an impact on prices.

movieman

Indeed. RAM is basically a commodity like oil or copper, and they all have similar peaks and troughs in prices based on supply and demand... the difference is that with RAM you always get more for less in the long term .

superscaper

movieman wrote:

Indeed. RAM is basically a commodity like oil or copper, and they all have similar peaks and troughs in prices based on supply and demand... the difference is that with RAM you always get more for less in the long term .

Good old Moore's Law :beer:

marksward

wait till you see the price increase when Vista finally releases! I think each new major operating system causes a peak in RAM prices

superscaper

marksward wrote:

wait till you see the price increase when Vista finally releases! I think each new major operating system causes a peak in RAM prices

People suddenly find they need better hardware to cope and so the demand shoots up making it a seller's market which of course increases the prices because the seller's know they can charge more without losing sales.

executiverocker

i remember a few years back when 128mb was like £100 then it came down to like £40 because of oversupply, flooding the market etc

Nesima

When is the best time to buy RAM ?
Having monitored Crucial's pricing I think they put the prices up at weekends.
With RAM is quality an issue ?? as I have seen some retailers doing 'budget' , 'value' , 'generic' offerings, surely it works or it doesn't ?
Or does better quality (more expensive ?) last longer ?

I did manage to get 512mb from PCWorld today for £30 the make is PNY, they did have cheaper 'Component Shop' RAM, like tesco's value brand I assume, I am trying to get good value, do you think I got it ?