Prices of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices rose marginally in the second half of this month but stayed below the $1 level, an industry report showed Wednesday, casting doubts on the prospect for their quick recovery.

The contract price of the benchmark DDR3 1-gigabit 128Mx8 1066-megahertz device rose 1.03 percent from the first half of this month to $0.98 in the second half, according to the report by Taiwan-based DRAMeXchange Technology Inc.

Although the figure marks the highest level in four months since the first half of December, it represents a slower-than-expected price rebound.

The device’s price snapped a downturn for the first time in 10 months in the second half of March, as the March 11 earthquake disrupted output and component supplies in Japan.

Its contract price, announced twice a month, rose 3.41 percent in the second half of March from the first half, and then rose 6.59 percent in the first half of April.

The contract price of the DDR3 DRAM, which is used in personal computers to run multiple programs simultaneously, hit $2.72 in May of last year.

Contract prices of other DRAM products rose around 1.4 percent in the same period. 

(Yonhap News)