The RAM market is experiencing a period of unprecedented strain. Recent data shows that RAM prices have reached unprecedented levels, marking a complete departure from the usual economic reality of computer components. This situation, sometimes referred to as “RAMageddon,” is forcing PC manufacturers to face extremely difficult purchasing conditions.
A detailed analysis of price trends reveals the magnitude of this crisis. 128 GB DDR5 kits, currently selling for $3,399, are ten times the lowest price ever recorded for this configuration. Although the price gaps narrow slightly as you move down to lower capacities, the increase remains massive. A 32 GB DDR5-5600 kit, which cost $72 last year, now sells for $392.
A 400–500% increase in RAM prices… Absurd
Average data from PCPartPicker confirms this cost explosion between August 2025 and August 2026. Annual increases are around 400% for standard 16 GB kits, reaching 485% for 32 GB models. A 64 GB DDR5-5600 kit, which used to cost less than $200, now costs over $1,100. This fivefold increase turns a predictable budget item into a significant expense for users.
DDR4 has not been spared from this inflation, although the impact is less severe. DDR4 memory prices have risen by 120% to 180% over the same period. In Germany, the website ComputerBase reports an average 345% increase in RAM prices in Europe compared to September 2025. This shortage is also affecting hard drives and SSDs, whose prices have climbed by more than 125%.
At the root of this phenomenon is the prioritization of global DRAM production for data centers supporting artificial intelligence. Hyperscaler buyers have secured nearly all of the production capacity planned for 2027, leaving PC and smartphone manufacturers to scramble for the scraps. The four leading memory suppliers— SK hynix, Samsung, Micron, and CXMT —have seen their revenues double, triple, or more in just one year.
The short-term outlook remains bleak. SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung warns that 2027 will be the worst year for memory supply in the industry’s history, with demand outpacing production capacity through 2030. ADATA President Simon Chen is even more pessimistic, estimating that this DRAM crisis could last another ten years. A significant drop in prices would likely only occur in the event of a major contraction in the AI market.
