According to Wccftech, DDR5 memory prices have reached all-time highs with 16GB and 32GB kits now costing twice as much as they did just months ago. The price surge began between August and September 2023 when AI demand started driving up memory costs across consumer and enterprise markets. What started as expected 30% price increases has now ballooned to over 170% hikes for some DDR5 and DDR4 products. Specific examples show a 64GB DDR5 kit that sold for £255 in May 2023 now costs £495, while a 32GB DDR5-7600 kit that went for $70 now sees lower-end DDR5-6000 kits priced around $400. Current pricing shows 32GB DDR5-4800 kits selling for $160-$170 versus under $100 in August, with faster kits seeing similar dramatic increases. The situation is affecting all major retailers including Amazon and Newegg, with no immediate relief in sight.
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Why this is happening
Here’s the thing – this isn’t your typical supply chain hiccup. The AI boom is basically sucking up all available memory production capacity, and manufacturers are prioritizing high-margin enterprise contracts over consumer-grade DDR5. When companies are willing to pay premium prices for server memory to power their AI models, why would manufacturers bother with cheaper consumer RAM? The result is what we’re seeing now: massive shortages and insane price hikes for regular PC builders.
What it means for PC builders
This timing couldn’t be worse. We’re heading into the holiday season when people typically build or upgrade their gaming rigs, and now they’re facing memory prices that have literally doubled. A basic 32GB DDR5 kit that should cost around $100 is now pushing $400 at Amazon. That’s insane. And it’s not just the high-end stuff – even entry-level 4800 MT/s kits are seeing massive increases. Basically, if you were planning a new PC build, you might want to wait this out – or seriously consider sticking with DDR4 for now.
The bigger picture
This memory crunch isn’t happening in isolation. The same forces driving up DDR5 prices are expected to hit NAND flash next, meaning SSD prices will likely follow the same upward trajectory. We’re looking at a perfect storm where AI demand, manufacturing priorities, and seasonal buying patterns are all colliding. The real question is how long this will last. Most analysts don’t see normalcy returning for several months at least. So if you were holding off on that memory upgrade, you might be waiting a while longer.
What’s next
Looking ahead, this could have serious ripple effects on the entire PC market. Higher component prices during the crucial holiday shopping season could tank PC sales numbers. Manufacturers might need to reconsider their product strategies, and consumers will definitely think twice about upgrading. The memory market has always been cyclical, but this level of price volatility is unprecedented in recent years. One thing’s for sure – the days of cheap DDR5 are over, at least for the foreseeable future.
