RAM Prices *5KB PIC*

[Peter_Peril]

I've heard all the "supply & demand" arguments. Yet I still find them a little suspicious. Okay 2100 Sodimms are becoming as scarce as Ron Paul supporters, but I can't believe the pricing ideology behind their current selling price.

Can someone please explain to me in small non-microeconomic terminology why I can't find a reasonable price for 2 Gb's of 2100 or even 2700 RAM!

NB: I understand "reasonable" in this context is subjective; I just want to now what you think

[SHoTTa35]

well i figured you could find 2 x 1GB sticks of DDR333 (i hate PC2700 name ) on craigslist and places like that. I got mine for $50 each i think. At the time it was like $90 at circuitcity each! Then again i saw places selling them for $150 so $50 was good to me.

[rkawakami]

Can someone please explain to me in small non-microeconomic terminology why I can't find a reasonable price for 2 Gb's of 2100 or even 2700 RAM!

Well, I guess I'll take a stab at this....

Pricing for semiconductor memory is often referred to as being an inverted bell curve:



When any given "state-of-the-art" memory is released for production, it starts out at a fairly high price, mostly because the supply is limited. As time goes on, more companies make the same type of part or improve on it (i.e., smaller die size, faster access times, it uses less power; mostly all three). Eventually the price reaches a low point and stagnates there for some time as the market is flooded. This is when the next generation design is usually introduced and replaces it. Companies then stop production of the older device since it is no longer cost effective and/or the market has moved to faster devices (PC2700 replacing PC2100 or DDR2 edging out DDR). As these older memories get harder to find (since manufacturers don't make them anymore), the law of supply and demand kicks in and the price starts to rise. Consumers may not know or realize that in some cases, there are newer memories which are compatible with the older ones. Most of the time, however, you simply cannot use anything else than what was designed into your system. Sellers will try to emphasize the "rareness" of the older devices and that can lead to a higher asking price. What keeps the price high are the people who buy at that level (or are even willing to pay more).

Now, certain memories are being hit very hard by this pricing scheme. SDRAM parts are probably not being manufactured any more; at least not in any appreciable volume. There are still lots of laptops out there that require these devices. The price-per-MB on these parts are vastly higher than say, DDR2 components. If you have "ancient" computer equipment (like what you see in my .sig), it's even worse than PC2100 vs PC2700.

As to why you can't find any reasonable prices, that depends upon where you are looking. Online stores will be the highest; eBay and craigslist can yield some good deals if you are patient or can construct a good search string.

ref: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0225753787

[Peter_Peril]

Wow that was truly inspiring Thank you for the detail used in explaining this mildly enigmatic issue. I must confess I wanted to bait the membership into a rant and rave thread, you know fight the power!, just for laughs of course. However your incisive, cogent narrative and the level of detail you used snuffed out any chance of that happening. My god you even worked in a reverse bell curve graph

There's a word for men like you my friend, KILLJOY! which can also be read as Moderator--and a really good one at that

Thanks again you're awesome

[rkawakami]

There's a word for men like you my friend, KILLJOY!

Thanks .

Here's something I just read in today's paper: Memory-chip glut means lower prices. Not sure how long this story will be accessible since the Murky News usually pulls content from free viewing after about a week.

edit: Here's the original article that was quoted in the Mercury News: Memory glut means consumer deals; article at ocregister.com.

[Peter_Peril]

Thanks Ray. I thought something like this was happening. I recently visited my local "techie" superstore (microcenter) and saw 2GB of OCZ Ballistix ram at a price so low I had to ask the sales guys if it was a typo.

Laptop ram still seems to be a little high on the retail end. With respect to ebay and Craigslist. I keep my eyes wide open for deals. I've seen some good prices and yet when they quote the shipping costs I tend to balk. One ebay store seller lives right up the street from me but refuses any local pickup he wants $7-8 dollars for shipping USPS. Yet I suppose this is par for the course considering the risks' involved.

I have a feeling I'll catch my wave again soon; heck I got my pristine T30 from craigslist for $225