Memory Prices, 1957 to present, chart

Saw a recent post mentioning when RAM was priced at $1500 per MB.

That made me curious about the long term trend and I found the chart at this link:

Memory Prices 1957 to 2013

Column 1 shows the date; column 2 shows the price in dollars per MB. Prices generally taken from retailers like Newegg.

Here's some conversions to dollars per GB, which is more easily understood considering the current price.

April 2014: 7.30 per GB.

Nov 2012: 3.70, all time low

April 2003: 76, first time below $100 per GB

Feb 1998: 910; first time below $1000 per GB

Aug 1996: 9060; first time below $10000 per GB

Mar 1990: 98,000; first time below $100,000 per GB

Jan 1985: 880,000; first time below $1M per GB

Oct 1979: 6.7M; first time below $10M per GB

April 1975: 67M; first time below $100M per GB

1960: $5.2 billion per GB

Hi there

"Moore's Law" -- although for memory we are doing BETTER than Moore's Law.
In general it's the same with most technology -- just look at what you can buy a DECENT used car for with all the technology in it compared with what was available several years ago.

About the only things that inevitably seem to RISE in time are Energy Prices, Income taxes and in most desirable areas the price of Real Estate - especially in places like Central Paris. NYC or London.

Cheers
jimbo

HammerHead said:

I think your forgot food.

Hi there.

Depending on what you eat and where you live food is a LOT cheaper than several years ago -- you have to look at the price relative to income not the absolute price.

I grow a lot of my own vegetables -- taste much better than Supermarkets - they cost virtually nothing and are "self propagating" from year to year -

Looking at "The median" earner - a much smaller percentage of income is spent on food than several years ago -- of course if you always eat "Junk" or Take away stuff and / or visit restaurants a lot then it IS more expensive.

Again if you want cheaper food then - this is getting into dangerous territory - we should ENCOURAGE the use of genetically modified stuff -- higher yields, more disease resistant etc and cheaper energy production -- but I'm sure the "Tree Hugging" Rent a mob lot would have things to say about more Fracking etc. Of course THEY aren't the people paying your energy bills !!!!

Cheers
jimbo