DDR2 and DDR3 are getting more expensive.
Contract prices for 1Gb DDR3 memory have increased to between $US2.41 and $US2.69 in the first half of March, driving up the prices of 2GB DDR3 modules to between $US41.50 and $US43.00.
According to figures from DRAMexchange quoted by Digitimes, even out of date DDR2 parts managed to hold on to their late February prices.
DRAMexchange claims that that the rally in DDR3 chips has been mainly driven by growing demand from PC OEMs. They are apparently ordering DRAM like mad and are expected to carry on doing this until the second quarter.
Some producers such as Nanya even intend to raise contract prices by scaling down supply.
Contract quotes for DDR2 modules remained high at $US38 to $US40 according to DRAMexchange, even though many chipmakers are in the process of converting some of their capacity to DDR3.
Average spot prices for 1Gb DDR2 effectively tested chips edged up 1.33 per cent to close at $US2.42 yesterday with the one-day rise outperforming branded DDR2 and same-density DDR3.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012