Severe Memory Shortages: Distributors “Force” RAM Buyers to Purchase Motherboards Alongside Modules

In recent times, distributors throughout the supply chain have ingeniously utilized memory shortages to enhance their profit margins, often compelling consumers to purchase motherboards alongside their RAM modules.

Are You Shopping for RAM? You Might Be Obligated to Buy a New Motherboard!

The retail landscape has witnessed a surge in bundled offers that feature high-demand components. Notably, this trend has been amplified with items such as the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs. As highlighted in a report from the Taiwan Economic Daily, Taiwanese distributors are currently mandating that customers buy a motherboard every time they purchase a RAM module. This means that if you’re looking for a DDR5 RAM stick, you will also need to acquire a compatible motherboard. Such a tactic is shocking and somewhat amusing, revealing the peculiar state of the industry today.

The motivation behind this unusual practice likely lies in efforts to reduce excess inventory, especially as the market transitions to a new generation of CPUs, which will come with specialized chipsets. By encouraging consumers to buy both RAM and motherboards, distributors seize the opportunity to cater to increasing demand while promoting motherboard sales. Nevertheless, it raises concerns about the fairness of this approach, particularly for those seeking only a memory module. The retail supply chain continues to struggle in navigating these challenging market conditions.

Image Credits: Wccftech

It remains to be seen whether this troubling strategy will be confined to Taiwan or if it might spread to other regions, potentially impacting how companies like ASUS and MSI manage RAM sales as they seek to enhance their motherboard sales figures. As the memory market currently finds itself in a phase of ‘panic buying, ’ consumers and retailers alike are grappling with limited DRAM availability. Simultaneously, consumer prices for memory have surged dramatically in a matter of weeks, leaving many gamers in a holding pattern for their memory upgrades.

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