HardwareFreaks

Tag: Solid-state drives

  • Memory price surge begins to cool as consumers hit affordability limit — AI demand still keeps DRAM and NAND prices climbing through Q3 2026

    Featured image Memory price surge begins to cool as consumers hit affordability limit AI demand still keeps DRAM and NAND prices climbing through Q3

    The relentless march of artificial intelligence is driving massive demand for computing power, but beneath the surface of this technological boom lies a fascinating economic paradox: memory prices continue to climb, yet the blistering pace of those increases is beginning to cool.

    New market analysis projects that while conventional DRAM contract prices are set to rise between 13% and 18% quarter-over-quarter in the third quarter of 2026, and NAND Flash prices follow a similar trajectory, this acceleration is starting to hit a snag. The sharp jumps seen in recent quarters are slowing down significantly as consumer buyers hit their economic ceiling.

    This slowdown isn’t due to improved supply; memory remains constrained. Instead, the restraint comes from a simple reality: consumers simply refuse to absorb ever-higher costs after months of relentless price increases. The market is split between the insatiable appetite of hyperscale data centers and the finite budget of the consumer.

    The engine driving this tension is undeniably AI. Demand for AI inference systems and massive data centers keeps supply tightly constrained, forcing manufacturers to focus production capacity on higher-margin server products. This strategic shift leaves less available for consumer memory, creating a bottleneck that prevents prices from falling even as demand from PCs and smartphones softens.

    In the enterprise sector, however, the outlook remains robust. Demand for AI-powered servers built around x86 processors continues to support steady deployments of DIMMs, meaning server DRAM is expected to remain undersupplied through the third quarter of 2026. Price increases in this segment are expected to moderate because long-term supply agreements help stabilize costs.

    The consumer front paints a distinctly different picture. Notebook and smartphone manufacturers are expected to maintain inventory replenishment, but the cost pressure is filtering into retail pricing. High memory costs are set to weigh on PC shipments for the remainder of the year, and smartphone vendors are facing similar pressure, opting to raise handset prices while becoming more cautious with production schedules.

    This pattern extends across storage products as well. PC makers accumulated substantial SSD inventories earlier this year, diminishing their willingness to accept further price hikes from suppliers. This move has prompted a more flexible approach in contract negotiations, helping to moderate the overall cost of solid-state drives.

    Not all segments are experiencing uniform demand pressure. For instance, while AI infrastructure remains the industry’s top priority, specific graphics memory markets show divergence. Recent reports indicate that high-end graphics chips, like NVIDIA’s RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, have not yet generated the expected surge in GDDR7 demand, and weaker notebook shipments have softened graphics memory appetite.

    Ultimately, for PC builders and consumers alike, meaningful price relief is still on the horizon. Memory prices will continue to rise because AI infrastructure remains the primary focus, but the pace of those increases is steadily slowing down as consumer demand reaches its natural breaking point.

    Credit: Tom’s Hardware

  • Acer’s 4TB GM7 PCIe 4.0 SSD drops to $470 for Prime Day — 2TB and 4TB models are both on sale for up to 23% off

    The quest for blazing-fast storage has become an increasingly expensive game. Solid-state drives, once a luxury, are now grappling with soaring prices, making savvy shopping essential for anyone building or upgrading a high-performance PC. Yet, amidst the market turmoil, hidden gems are emerging—and one contender demanding attention right now is the Acer Predator GM7.

    During recent Prime Day sales, this powerhouse drive offers an incredible opportunity. The 4TB model, which has been highly sought after, is currently priced at $469.99, representing a substantial discount of 23% off its original MSRP of $609.

    While the listed price looks incredibly appealing, it’s important to understand the wider context. This specific drive has actually traded hands for well over $700 throughout much of the year, underscoring the intense competition and scarcity plaguing the current storage market. This deal positions the GM7 at pre-shortage pricing—a welcome respite amid the ongoing supply crisis.

    Beyond the attractive cost, the performance metrics prove that this drive still delivers serious speed. Operating on the PCIe 4.0 standard, the GM7 manages sequential read speeds up to 7,400 MB/s and write speeds up to 6500 MB/s. While it may not offer the absolute bleeding edge of every new technology, these speeds are more than sufficient for almost any demanding application.

    In head-to-head testing against industry rivals like the WD Black SN850X and Samsung 980 Pro, the GM7 proves itself highly capable. It successfully rivals those top-tier drives in various performance benchmarks, demonstrating strong endurance with a formidable 1,300 TBW rating.

    Furthermore, when evaluating real-world tasks, the efficiency of the drive shines. While other models might edge out the GM7 in microscopic file transfers, the Predator GM7 maintains superior performance and excellent efficiency during intensive

    Credit: Tom’s Hardware