Computer components like RAM are surging in price
In recent years, consumers have faced a myriad of challenges, particularly in the tech sector, where the cost of essential components for building or upgrading PCs has surged dramatically. A new report from Ars Technica highlights the current state of the PC hardware market, revealing that hobbyists and gamers are grappling with unprecedented price hikes for crucial components like RAM and SSDs. The primary driver behind this inflation is the booming demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which has led to data centers consuming a significant portion of the global supply of memory and storage hardware. As a result, prices have skyrocketed, making it a particularly tough time for those looking to invest in new PC builds.
For instance, the price of the Patriot Viper Venom 16GB DDR5-6000 RAM kit has soared from $49 to $110, marking a staggering 124.5 percent increase between August and November 2025. Even more shocking is the Team Delta RGB 64GB DDR5-6400 kit, which skyrocketed from $190 to a jaw-dropping $700, reflecting a 268.4 percent spike. Although SSD prices have also risen, they have not reached the same alarming levels as RAM. This situation is exacerbated by the inherent challenges of chip manufacturing, which requires extensive advance planning. The current shortages stem from decisions made long before the AI surge, leading to a market that is particularly susceptible to dramatic price fluctuations. The pandemic serves as a stark reminder of this volatility, as manufacturers struggled to keep pace with sudden spikes in demand during 2020 and 2021, only to see that demand plummet as purchasing habits normalized.
Given the current landscape, potential buyers looking to upgrade their RAM are advised to exercise caution and patience. With the demand from data centers and AI developers far outstripping supply, it is likely that prices will remain elevated for the foreseeable future. Those considering a new build or upgrade may be better off waiting for the market to stabilize rather than succumbing to the current inflated prices. Until the production of RAM can catch up with the booming appetite for AI technologies, consumers may find it more prudent to hold off on purchases, hoping for a more favorable market in the coming months.
Being a consumer has been challenging over the past few years. Between a global pandemic and
sweeping tariffs
, wallets have taken repeated hits — but for PC hobbyists right now, it might actually be the worst moment to start building a rig.
New reporting from Ars Technica
lays out just how dire the situation has become, showing that prices for essential PC components, such as RAM and SSDs, have skyrocketed. The culprit is the ongoing AI boom, with data centers
reportedly consuming
the world’s supply of memory and storage hardware, driving prices straight into the stratosphere.
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Take the Patriot Viper Venom 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR5-6000 kit, which increased from $49 to $110 — a 124.5 percent rise — between August and November 2025. Or the Team Delta RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-6400, which skyrocketed from $190 to $700, a staggering 268.4 percent spike. At the time of this writing, the Team Delta RAM kit priced has “dropped” with its highest recent retail price topping out at
a jaw-dropping $1,049
just a week ago.
SSD prices have crept upward, too, though they haven’t entered panic territory yet. RAM, however, is a different story. If you’re eyeing an upgrade, you may want to sit tight for a bit.
As Ars Technica points out, memory and storage shortages are notoriously difficult to manage because chip manufacturing depends on years of advance planning. The supply we’re dealing with today is the result of production decisions made long before the current AI-driven surge in demand. That inherent lag makes the memory market especially prone to violent price swings.
The pandemic offered a perfect example. Manufacturers were blindsided by the sudden, massive spike in demand for PCs and consumer tech in 2020 and 2021, only to watch that demand crater once buying habits normalized.
PC sales soared
, plummeted, then stabilized — all within a few years. Volatility like that makes long-term planning almost impossible for memory suppliers.
Until the supply of RAM catches up to the appetite of data centers and AI developers, anyone looking to boost their RAM is probably best off waiting for the market to cool down rather than paying the current premium.
