Date: January 4, 2026
Category: PC Hardware / Market Analysis
If you’ve looked at PC part lists recently, you’ve likely experienced sticker shock. Throughout 2023 and 2024, we got used to dirt-cheap memory. You could pick up a high-speed 32GB DDR5 kit for under $100.
Those days are effectively over.
As we kick off 2026, we are in the middle of a massive upward correction in DRAM prices. A 32GB kit that cost $95 last spring is now trading near $300 in many regions. This is not normal inflation—it is a structural shift in the semiconductor industry.
1. The Real Culprit: AI Is Cannibalizing Your RAM
The primary reason your gaming PC’s RAM is expensive is artificial intelligence. Memory manufacturers have aggressively pivoted production toward HBM (High Bandwidth Memory), which is essential for AI accelerators.
- HBM consumes ~3× more wafer capacity than DDR5
- HBM has far higher profit margins than consumer RAM
- Each wafer used for AI is one less wafer for gamers
2. The Numbers: A Steep Climb
In September 2025, a 16Gb DDR5 chip sold for around $6.84. By December, that same chip exceeded $27.00.
- Weekly price volatility of 10–15%
- High-speed kits frequently out of stock
- Manufacturers prioritizing server memory
3. The DDR4 Price Inversion
DDR4 production is being phased out faster than expected. In some markets, older DDR4 kits now cost more than entry-level DDR5. Scarcity—not performance—is driving this inversion.
4. 2026 Forecast: Worse Before Better
Industry projections suggest price pressure will continue through Q2 and Q3 of 2026. New fabs won’t meaningfully increase supply until late 2027 or beyond.
Prediction: Another 30–50% price increase before stabilization.
Buying Advice for 2026
- Buy now if you need a system today
- Don’t overbuy memory you won’t use
- Check the used market for early adopter kits
Bottom line: The AI boom is consuming silicon, and PC builders are paying the price.