又来！传三星和SK海力士延长DDR4生产

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the unexpected price surge of DDR4 memory chips, driven by the decision of major manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix to extend DDR4 production due to its higher market price compared to DDR5, despite DDR5's superior performance and efficiency [3][4][5]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Samsung and SK Hynix have decided to extend DDR4 production into next year, reversing earlier plans to phase it out, due to sustained high prices for DDR4 [3][4]. - The price of DDR4 has surpassed that of DDR5, with the price difference increasing from $7.01 for DDR4 to $8.59 by August, indicating a significant market shift [5]. - The rise in DDR4 prices is attributed to a supply shortage caused by a shift in production focus towards high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which consumes three times the wafers compared to standard DRAM [5][6]. Group 2: Demand Factors - There remains a portion of demand for DDR4, particularly from AI data centers, which has contributed to its price increase [6]. - Despite DDR5's advantages, the current market conditions have led to a temporary demand shift back to DDR4, reminiscent of past transitions between memory generations [6][7]. - The overall demand for DDR4 has been influenced by speculative buying and stockpiling behavior in the market, particularly following announcements of production halts by major manufacturers [7][8]. Group 3: Price Trends - DDR4 prices began to rise significantly from February and March, with Samsung experiencing the largest increases, and by May, prices had doubled compared to March [7]. - Following the announcement of production halts, prices for some DDR4 models surged by 150% to 400%, leading to a frenzied market environment [7]. - By July, the market stabilized with most DDR4 models ceasing to rise sharply, although some specific models still experienced price increases due to shortages [8].