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| A picture of a pair of memory modules on the Framework blog |
In a stark sign of the times for the tech industry, skyrocketing memory costs are now forcing radical changes in how companies sell laptops. Framework, the pioneering brand behind fully modular and repairable computers, has announced its third memory price increase in just two weeks, a move so severe it’s now actively steering customers away from its own upgrades.
The latest adjustment, detailed in a Framework Blog update on December 24th, sees the company raising prices across its laptop lineup to reflect what it calls "weighted-average supplier cost increases." This follows a 50% jump in early December that led Framework to halt sales of individual RAM modules altogether to prevent scalping.
A Price-Per-Gigabyte Reality Check
The new pricing structure is blunt: a $10-per-gigabyte fee applies to 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB DDR5 modules, with an even higher rate for newer 48GB sticks. While Framework stresses its direct-from-supplier pricing remains below typical retail, the repeated hikes highlight an unprecedented market volatility.
“We are only passing on what’s essential from our suppliers and distributors,” the company stated, emphasizing it isn’t profiting from the increases. The situation has grown so challenging that Framework’s primary advice to customers has shifted.
The New Advice: DIY Your RAM
In a remarkable step for a hardware manufacturer, Framework is now encouraging buyers to source their own memory. The company is pushing its DIY Edition laptops and, in a forthcoming update to its online configurator, plans to integrate a direct link to PCPartPicker to help users find better deals.
To ensure compatibility for those going this route, Framework has published a knowledge base of tested memory modules. “If you can find a better deal elsewhere, we recommend bringing your own memory,” the blog post advises—a clear signal of just how distorted the market has become.
For readers looking to navigate this advice, a reliable option like this Crucial 32GB DDR5 laptop memory kit on Amazon is among the compatible modules users might consider.
The Perfect Storm Driving the Crisis
As Framework explains in its detailed post, Updating on Memory Pricing and Navigating the Volatile Memory Market, this crisis is driven by a global perfect storm. A significant RAM shortage, ongoing supply chain disruptions, and voracious enterprise-level demand from servers and AI data centers are consuming vast quantities of high-capacity memory, squeezing the consumer market dry.
Framework isn’t alone in feeling the pinch, but its transparent communication is unusual. The company warns that further price hikes are possible as early as January and notes that storage (SSD) prices are surging sharply and may follow the same trajectory.
Transparency as a Strategy
In a market where customers often face unexplained price jumps or configuration changes, Framework’s open-hand approach—even when delivering bad news—could build significant long-term goodwill. By framing itself as a partner navigating the crisis alongside the customer, rather than a faceless corporation, it reinforces its core ethos of empowerment and repair.
The company has promised to drop prices as soon as supplier costs ease. For now, the message to consumers is clear: the era of cheap memory is over, and flexibility is your greatest asset. Shopping for your own RAM might not just be a way to save money—it could be the only way to get your next laptop at a reasonable price.