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ZDNET's key takeaways
RAM prices are soaring primarily due to demand for AI.
Helium shortages are also contributing to RAM shortages.
We're seeing a domino effect on older RAM as manufacturers try to bypass higher prices.
How crazy high are RAM prices right now? So crazy that even moving to RAM technology that's two decades old won't help protect consumers from increased costs
Rising RAM prices are pushing up the prices of all your favorite gadgets, such as Raspberry Pi boards (now a pair of 16GB Pi 5 boards will cost you the same as a MacBook Neo), and will likely push up prices for all things Apple in the very near future.
Also: MacBook Neo vs. Surface: Why spiraling RAM prices are bruising Microsoft's PC business but not Apple's
To try to work around these price increases, some hardware manufacturers decided to step back in time and use RAM based on older technologies, but now, with fresh demand, prices for older hardware have gone through the roof.
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