DRAM · Dynamic Random-Access Memory
Volatile system memory attached to the CPU; the capacity tier behind the GPU's on-package HBM, used for caches, KV offload, and data staging.
Current numbers
~20% hikeHBM3E contract price increase into 2026; DRAM spot ~+90% Q1-2026 QoQ on spillover
~3x wafersHBM consumes ~3x the DRAM wafer area per GB of commodity DDR5 — the structural crowding-out driver
~30% / ~8%HBM as share of DRAM revenue (~30%) vs share of DRAM bits (~8%) — why fabs prioritize it