RAM Costs Are Out of Control: What’s Happening?

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Today’s gaming hardware lets us play amazing games that push the limits of what’s possible. PCs have long been the go-to for gamers who want the best performance, often exceeding what consoles can offer. However, recent price increases might make building or buying a gaming PC too expensive for many players.

It’s become surprisingly affordable to buy a PlayStation 5 – you can now get one for less than the cost of 64GB of DDR5 RAM for a PC. Considering RAM is a crucial component for a gaming PC, building a high-end machine is getting increasingly expensive. For the same price, you could even buy a PlayStation 5 Pro, especially with deals like the Cyber Monday offer recently available on Amazon.

Component prices have recently jumped, and we’re trying to figure out if this is just a short-term issue or a signal of more price increases ahead. We’ll explore the reasons behind this unusual situation and offer advice for anyone considering a PC upgrade. Plus, we’ll discuss how the gaming industry might adapt and even benefit from these changes in the coming year.

Cause and Effect

Before we focus on how this impacts us, it’s important to understand the bigger picture. We’re at the very beginning of the supply chain, and facing competition from others who need memory much more than we do. It’s not just RAM that’s getting more expensive; parts like SSDs, NAND flash, and even traditional hard drives are becoming harder for consumers to afford.

So, what’s driving this surge in demand? Artificial intelligence is the key. AI data centers are rapidly increasing the need for components like DRAM, SSDs, and HDDs. Similarly, memory chips are in high demand because they are essential for AI servers. Industry experts say this level of demand is unusual and unprecedented.

ADATA’s chairman has noted the huge demand for computer parts from AI data centers, and Samsung has responded by increasing the price of its memory chips by as much as 60%. This price hike likely aims to balance the massive demand created by the growing popularity of AI.


 

Computer manufacturers are alerting investors that a parts shortage, driven by high demand for artificial intelligence technology, will likely reduce their profits. They might even need to change how they price their products. Meanwhile, retailers are switching to constantly updating prices for RAM, as fixed prices are no longer practical due to rapidly changing costs.

Speaking of prices, it’s concerning that DDR5 memory kits now cost three times what they did a year ago. Apparently, this is the first time in three decades that we’ve experienced such a significant shortage of RAM and other related computer parts.

So, how will this impact gamers and the companies that make consoles? PC gamers might have to delay upgrading their computers, which could disrupt their gaming plans if the issue isn’t resolved. Console owners will likely feel the effects as well.

Rippling Consequences

For PC gamers, 32GB or 64GB of DDR5 RAM now represents a major cost when building a new computer – it’s no longer just an optional upgrade. This higher price makes getting into PC gaming more expensive, and could lead to fewer people building PCs, as consoles offer a cheaper and simpler alternative at a similar price.

Honestly, with the PS5 Pro being as expensive as it is, I can see a lot of people who were thinking about building a gaming PC just giving up and going with the PlayStation instead. And with Sony offering some great bundles featuring their exclusive games, I bet a lot of us will end up getting a console themed around the game we love most!

Even if you don’t want to build your own computer, don’t assume you’re safe from upgrades. While pre-built computers might include 16GB of RAM to keep prices down, that’s becoming less ideal for gaming. Many new games now recommend 32GB for a good experience, so upgrading will be expensive. As a result, many gamers will likely end up playing with the lowest possible settings.

If you’re a PC gamer thinking about upgrading your hardware, it might be smart to hold off for now, especially if your current setup can still handle upcoming games. Also, keep in mind that installing large games is becoming more expensive, as the price of 2-4TB NVMe drives has increased recently.

If you own a gaming console, you might think you’re safe from current issues, and that’s partly true. You won’t need to upgrade for a while, and you’ll still be able to play all the newest games. However, there will still be costs to consider in the long run.

As we’re nearing the end of this generation of gaming consoles, with Sony and Microsoft already planning their next ones, production must be starting soon. Because the cost of memory has increased by 30 to 60%, it’s likely that making these new consoles will be more expensive for manufacturers.

With rising costs and tough competition, it will be interesting to see how major gaming companies respond. They might have to accept lower profits, raise prices for consumers, or try to find a compromise. We likely won’t see as many discounts on new consoles, and future mid-generation upgrades may be less substantial or more expensive—similar to what we see with PCs. Overall, prices are going up, and this trend is expected to continue for some time.

It’s also important to remember those who take advantage of limited stock by reselling products at much higher prices – scalpers. If supply problems continue, they’ll likely drive prices up even further, making it harder for everyday gamers to afford PC components and even consoles, potentially repeating the issues we saw with the initial PS5 launch.

A Grim Forecast With A Bright Horizon

Industry experts don’t expect this issue to be fixed quickly. In fact, ADATA and Samsung predict the situation will likely worsen before it improves. This is causing retailers to treat RAM as a short-term, rapidly changing product rather than a consistent component for computers, as shown by current market prices.

As demand for AI continues to grow, 2026 could see even greater challenges than 2025 regarding the availability of RAM and SSDs. This is because manufacturers need time to increase production and stabilize supply chains. Experts predict these higher prices may become the new standard for the foreseeable future.

The situation isn’t all bad, especially if you’re already in a good position. If you have 32GB of DDR4 RAM, you likely don’t need to rush into an upgrade. If you’re still planning a new computer build, focus on getting a good graphics card (GPU) and processor (CPU) first, before worrying about RAM. Sticking with a reasonable 32GB of DDR4 RAM is a better choice than spending extra on super-fast 64GB kits.

If you’re planning a build, it’s a good idea to save components to your wishlist and get alerts about sales to find the best prices. Look into trade-in options, if available, for extra savings. Console gamers, while the impact of recent changes won’t be felt immediately, it’s smart to start saving for your next console, as discounts may become less frequent. The good news is you likely won’t have to sacrifice much performance, and since consoles don’t allow RAM upgrades, you’re in a better position for now.

It will be fascinating to see what happens in the new year. We’re hoping for a fast and effective fix to the challenges the gaming industry is facing right now. Until then, we can still enjoy playing games, even if we have to adjust how we do so.

Please keep in mind that the opinions shared in this article belong solely to the author and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2025-12-10 22:42