- Resellers target DDR5 RAM as AI demand reduces global supply
- Automated Bots Hit DDR5 Listings Six Times More Than Real Buyers
- Over 10 million scraping requests blocked in a single campaign
You’ve probably seen the chaos resellers can cause, as limited-edition sneakers, flights, major concert tickets and the PlayStation 5 have all seen prices skyrocket as robots snap up stock in seconds and trade it for a profit, effectively shutting ordinary buyers out of the market.
DDR5 RAM is the latest target for resellers, as in the face of growing shortages, automated purchasing tools are arriving quickly, making the bad situation even worse.
The increase in AI workloads is causing shortages. Training large language models and running inference servers requires large amounts of memory, and manufacturers are shifting production toward higher-margin AI-focused products like HBM, reducing consumer supply of DDR5 in the process.
10 million scraping requests blocked
Recent research from the Galileo threat team found that scalping bots access DDR5 product pages almost six times more often than legitimate buyers. In one campaign alone, over 10 million scraping requests were blocked.
In a one-hour sample, the bots made 50,000 requests across 91 DDR5 listings. Each product page was reviewed an average of 551 times, which translates to stock checks every 6.5 seconds.
This wasn’t limited to flashy RGB kits for PC enthusiasts. The bots targeted the entire supply chain, from consumer modules from Corsair, Crucial, Kingston and Lexar to OEMs and industrial suppliers such as Micron and Apacer.
Even upstream components, such as DDR5 DIMM sockets from Amphenol and TE Connectivity, are being monitored, indicating strains across the supply chain.
The automation is deliberate. Almost all requests carry cache clearing parameters, sessions consist of a single page view and exit, and there is no navigation or cart activity.
Traffic circulates flat and mechanically seven days a week. When technical problems occur, activity drops instantly and then immediately returns to maximum volume, a pace that no human buying pattern follows.
As with sneakers and consoles, automated purchasing is blocking regular customers. The difference here is that the frenzy is not fueled by hype, but by artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
