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bmichaelh

(1,281 posts) Mon Apr 20, 2026, 06:19 PM Apr 20

High cost of AI

I just found out high cost of AI today not involving utility bills.

A SSD hard drive that cost under $50 a year ago now cost about $250.

Did some searching on the Internet and said AI is causing these drives to spike in price.

8 replies

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High cost of AI (Original Post) bmichaelh Apr 20 OP

RAM has been even worse! nt Shermann Apr 20 #1

Ram is outrageous now! SheltieLover Apr 20 #4

Why? Increased demand?**nm misanthrope Apr 20 #2

Everything needs to be fast canetoad Apr 20 #6

One of two things might happen: hunter Apr 20 #3

I haven't priced SSDs in a few months. Intractable Apr 20 #5

The manufacturers are focusing on the server market... hunter Apr 21 #7

Oh my - 487.248% increase in 14 months Blue Dotty Apr 21 #8

Shermann

(9,075 posts)

1. RAM has been even worse! nt

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Mon Apr 20, 2026, 06:49 PM

Apr 20

SheltieLover

(81,966 posts)

4. Ram is outrageous now!

Reply to Shermann (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 20, 2026, 09:09 PM

Apr 20

misanthrope

(9,654 posts)

2. Why? Increased demand?**nm

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Mon Apr 20, 2026, 07:34 PM

Apr 20

canetoad

(21,090 posts)

6. Everything needs to be fast

Reply to misanthrope (Reply #2)

Mon Apr 20, 2026, 11:19 PM

Apr 20

To handle the big searches with no delay. I'm glad as a race, humans have their priorities right. :

hunter

(40,896 posts)

3. One of two things might happen:

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Mon Apr 20, 2026, 07:59 PM

Apr 20

The bubble will collapse and the giant data centers will be chopped up for parts which will make solid state drives and RAM affordable again. ( If people had to pay the actual costs of AI they wouldn't be making all this YouTube slop. )

-- OR --

These huge data centers will be subsidized by the government and repurposed as fascist surveillance machines worse than anything George Orwell imagined. You won't be able to take a piss without Big Brother knowing about it.

Intractable

(2,441 posts)

5. I haven't priced SSDs in a few months.

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Mon Apr 20, 2026, 09:15 PM

Apr 20

A quick look on Amazon shows prices have doubled in that time.

I doubt AI uses these consumer-level drives.

So, what's the deal? Chip shortages? Strait of Hormuz?

hunter

(40,896 posts)

7. The manufacturers are focusing on the server market...

Reply to Intractable (Reply #5)

Tue Apr 21, 2026, 02:17 AM

Apr 21

... and treating the consumer market as a side gig.

Blue Dotty

(190 posts)

8. Oh my - 487.248% increase in 14 months

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2026, 09:30 AM

Apr 21

I upgraded ram in Feb 2025 to 64GB (2x32GB) 5600MT/s for $149 in Feb 2025
Today's price, identical item - $875.

Glad I didn't wait for once.

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