The cost of RAM has never been higher, making it a bleak time for PC building — Here’s how to work around the price gouging while holiday shopping

by

Like what you’re reading? To get the newest news, reviews, and features from Windows Central, set us as a preferred source in Google Search and learn why it’s a great idea!

If you’re looking to buy RAM for your computer or as a holiday gift, you’ll quickly notice that prices are surprisingly high right now.

The current shortage of RAM – some are calling it “RAMageddon” – is making it hard to build or upgrade computers, and it’s likely to increase the cost of many electronics that rely on DRAM. I recently explained the reasons behind the rising RAM prices, but essentially, AI companies are purchasing huge amounts of DRAM for their data centers.

A severe shortage is causing DDR5 RAM prices to skyrocket, making it difficult for PC builders and gamers to enjoy their hobby. I’m sharing some budget-friendly solutions to help you build a PC without overspending, especially with Christmas approaching.

Make peace with slower, plainer RAM kits

I’ve noticed when picking out DDR5 RAM, it’s easy to get carried away with options. You can find kits with all sorts of flashy lights and designs, or just simple, basic modules. And if you’re building a powerful PC, you also have to think about things like speed and timings. But honestly, now isn’t the time to overthink it – just get what works!

Generally, I’m noticing that simpler RAM kits – those without super-high speeds or fancy designs – tend to be more affordable. That’s not a hard and fast rule, but it’s a common trend.

Right now, a 32GB kit of Team Group’s Vulcan DDR5-5200 RAM (without lights) costs around $269.99 at Newegg. A 16GB kit of Corsair’s Vengeance DDR5-5200 RAM, which *does* have lights, is about $219.99. It’s worth noting that RAM prices are changing quickly – they actually changed twice while I was writing this!

Usually, I suggest getting RAM that’s both fast and precisely timed. However, given the current situation, I think it’s better to prioritize getting more RAM overall, even if it means sacrificing a little speed.

Watch out for bundled RAM at a low price

This year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales – and the weeks following – featured some great deals on desktop RAM. However, there was a catch: the RAM was only available when purchased with a motherboard.

If you’re looking for affordable RAM, consider buying it in a bundle, even if you don’t need the motherboard included. You can always find a use for the motherboard by selling it or giving it to someone who can use it.

Those great bundle deals are mostly gone now, but we expect to see new ones appear soon. Newegg was usually the place to find the lowest prices, so that’s the best place to check for updates.

Find a great deal on a pre-built or laptop

As current PC models built before the recent increase in RAM costs are sold, prices are expected to go up. Companies like Lenovo, Dell, HP, CyberPowerPC, and Maingear have indicated they plan to raise prices soon, but there’s still a chance to find a good deal on existing stock.

This isn’t a great choice if you just want to upgrade your computer’s memory. However, it could be a good option for someone building a whole new system.

One standout deal currently is the ASUS ROG G700, available at Best Buy for just $799.99 – that’s $400 off the usual price! It’s equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 225F processor, an NVIDIA RTX 5060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a fast 1TB solid state drive.

If you prefer AMD, the iBuyPower Slate Mesh pre-built PC I reviewed is currently on sale at Best Buy. It comes with a Ryzen 7 8700F processor, an RTX 5070 graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD, and you can get it all for only $1,499.99.

Plan a build using DDR4 RAM instead of DDR5

Right now, a shortage of memory is primarily driving up the price of DDR5 RAM. This type of memory, along with HBM, is in high demand for building the powerful data centers used in artificial intelligence.

As a PC builder, I’m really glad to see that older DDR4 RAM prices are still pretty good right now. It’s a relief! Of course, that could change if everyone starts grabbing it up, but at the moment, you can usually find a solid 2x8GB kit of DDR4 for around $100, which is awesome.

Make sure your computer uses DDR4 RAM, and that the user is okay with a small decrease in performance before upgrading.

DDR5 RAM is better than DDR4, but given how expensive it currently is, the benefits don’t quite justify the cost compared to sticking with DDR4.

Wait for prices to return to normal

If prices don’t come down on their own, we’re just stuck waiting for DDR5 RAM to become affordable again. It’s hard to say how long that will take. The current high demand driven by artificial intelligence could decrease, causing prices to fall, but it’s also possible demand will continue to increase.

Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron – the world’s biggest manufacturers of RAM – might be able to increase production of DRAM more quickly than anticipated, which could ease current shortages. However, building new manufacturing facilities takes a significant amount of time, so it will likely take years before we see a substantial impact.

Read More

2025-12-12 16:10