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Thread ID: 79067 2007-05-07 03:41:00 Computer RAM, why is it so expensive? rogerp (6864) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
547940 2007-05-07 03:41:00 When I purchased my old P3 1GHZ computer back in 2001, I got 1GB of RAM for it, which cost about $300. I thought that RAM and computer speeds were supposed to double every 18 - 36 months. For example, I could purchase 2GB RAM for $300 in 2004, and 4GB of RAM for $300 in 2007. However this doesn't appear to be the case, as I would be lucky to get 4GB of RAM for les than $600 in 2007.

What makes it even more confusing, is that memory for compact flash cards and USB Flash drives, have come down a lot in price, but regular computer memory pricing seems to have remained relatively static over the last few years. You can get a 1GB compact flash card for about $40. In 2002, a 128MB compact flash card cost almost $200.
I am wondering why this that case, is it a supply and demand thing?
rogerp (6864)
547941 2007-05-07 03:58:00 If you were a wholesaler or retailer making 10% profit, would you rather make your 10% on $300 or $40? racepics (7812)
547942 2007-05-07 04:03:00 Is anything in NZ cheap? No Speedy Gonzales (78)
547943 2007-05-07 04:07:00 If you were a wholesaler or retailer making 10% profit, would you rather make your 10% on $300 or $40?

Only 10%. Couldn't survive on that!!
berryb (99)
547944 2007-05-07 04:08:00 Is anything in NZ cheap? No

Probably not, I was however comparing NZ prices, to how that were 6 years ago. With our high NZ dollar, the price of these things also should have come down to.
rogerp (6864)
547945 2007-05-07 04:13:00 Only 10%. Couldn't survive on that!!

Unfortunate isnt it! - But thats the way it is in computer/parts retail.
Depending on your buying power ( large chain-stores etc ) there is on average 5-15% profit in new pc's for small businesses, depending on whether its a budget, medium or high end config.
racepics (7812)
547946 2007-05-07 04:33:00 I actually find computer RAM very cheap today. Today I can buy a cheap DDR2 800 RAM for only $80, whereas two years ago I bought my 1GB DDR2 533 RAM for $140. qazwsxokmijn (102)
547947 2007-05-07 04:38:00 I thought that RAM and computer speeds were supposed to double every 18 - 36 months.

Computer speeds do double although at the same time the applications we use get bigger thus requiring more resources and the tasks that some applications perform get more intensive. Applications also pick up a lot of bloat as developers ad more code(not all of it works efficiently).
winmacguy (3367)
547948 2007-05-07 05:22:00 If it's SDRAM we're talking about, they don't make it anymore, that's why it's expensive georgeks (9122)
547949 2007-05-07 06:01:00 Check out www.pricespy.co.nz for good prices on computer parts.:thumbs:
:2cents:
memphis (2869)
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