RAM Prices Plummet in Germany While US Sees Modest Gains as SSD and HDD Costs Surge

A comprehensive market analysis from ComputerBase reveals a stark divergence in memory and storage pricing trends between Germany and the United States, with RAM prices finally stabilizing in Europe while continuing to climb in America, and SSD/HDD costs surging across both markets.

German RAM Market Shows Promising Decline

The most encouraging development comes from Germany, where RAM prices have begun to fall after months of unprecedented increases. ComputerBase's analysis of Amazon Germany pricing data shows that nine out of twelve DDR5 and DDR4 kits have actually become cheaper compared to January 2026 levels, though they remain significantly elevated compared to pre-surge pricing.

Crucial's Pro Overclocking 32GB DDR5 kit experienced the largest price drop, falling 20% from $473.89 to $378.89 between January 14 and February 16, 2026. This represents meaningful progress in what has been an otherwise brutal market for consumers.

However, the situation in the United States tells a different story. The same Crucial 32GB DDR5 kit currently sells for $369 on Amazon US, up from $348.99 just a month prior—a 5.73% increase. Even more dramatic is the G.Skill Aegis 32GB DDR4 kit, which saw prices surge 17.4% in the US market, jumping from $229.99 to $269.99 in just weeks.

Despite these increases, the rate of price growth in the US has begun to slow. PCPartPicker data shows an overall plateauing of popular RAM kits, suggesting the market may be approaching a turning point even if prices haven't yet started to fall.

SSD and HDD Prices Continue Their Relentless Climb

While RAM shows signs of stabilization, storage devices continue their upward trajectory with alarming consistency. ComputerBase's data reveals that both SSDs and HDDs have become significantly more expensive across global markets.

Hard drive prices in Germany have increased 51% compared to five months ago, up from a 46.41% differential in January 2026. The Western Digital Red Plus 4TB model exemplifies this trend, rising 21.5% from $133.90 to $162.79 in just one month. Interestingly, the 8TB version of the same drive saw a 10.59% decrease in Germany, dropping from $255 to $228, highlighting the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of storage pricing.

In the US market, the WD Red Plus 4TB currently sells for $114.99, down from $180 at the end of January, suggesting regional variations in pricing strategies and availability.

SSD prices have experienced even more dramatic increases, with NAND flash memory now 86.59% more expensive than five months ago. This represents a significant acceleration from January's 74.12% increase, meaning prices jumped over 10% in just one month.

The Western Digital BLACK SN850X 2TB saw a massive 33.86% price hike in Germany, climbing from $215.90 to $289. Meanwhile, the same drive costs $400 in the US (shipped by Amazon, sold by a third-party vendor), though this represents progress from its $500 price point just 30 days earlier.

To put these increases in perspective, the WD BLACK SN850X 2TB retailed for a mere $89.99 in July 2023, illustrating the extraordinary inflation in SSD pricing over the past two years.

Market Context and Future Outlook

The pricing data reflects broader supply chain pressures affecting the entire technology sector. ComputerBase's analysis shows that while RAM prices have begun to plateau, they remain inflated beyond historical norms. The "RAMpocalypse" graph included in their report demonstrates the extraordinary price increases over the past few months, with SSD and HDD trends appearing relatively modest in comparison despite their own significant increases.

Several factors contribute to these pricing pressures. Production lines across major manufacturers are reportedly fully booked, creating supply constraints that drive prices higher. The ongoing demand from AI data centers continues to consume vast quantities of memory and storage, further straining available supply.

The divergence between German and US markets suggests regional variations in supply chain dynamics, with European markets potentially benefiting from different distribution channels or inventory management strategies. However, the overall trend remains concerning for consumers, with storage costs continuing to rise globally.

As ComputerBase notes in their conclusion, while memory prices are finally stabilizing, this represents more of an "overflow stoppage than a normalization." The storage market continues to face serious shortages, and with production capacity already maxed out, the situation could potentially worsen before improving.

For consumers and businesses alike, these trends underscore the importance of strategic purchasing decisions and highlight the ongoing challenges in the global technology supply chain that continue to impact pricing across all segments of the market.