tl;dr: DDR5 memory prices have surged roughly 350-500% year-over-year, with a 64GB DDR5-5600 kit jumping from under $200 to over $1,100, while DDR4 has climbed 120-180% as builders flee to older platforms. Hyperscalers have reportedly locked up nearly all 2027 DRAM production for AI datacenters, leaving consumer markets with scraps. Industry executives from SK Hynix and ADATA warn the shortage could worsen through 2027 and potentially persist for a decade.