RAM Prices Surge as GPU Costs Stabilize, Creating a Dual Market Reality for PC Builders
November 2025 – PC builders face a shifting market landscape as graphics card prices begin to stabilize while the cost of RAM-particularly DDR5-skyrockets. The dramatic increase in memory prices is driven by surging demand fueled by the artificial intelligence boom, compounded by preemptive purchasing from manufacturers and consumer panic buying.
The price hikes impact all PC users, from gamers to professionals, and threaten to stall system upgrades. while GPU prices have shown signs of easing, the sudden and substantial increases in RAM and flash memory chips are sending shockwaves through the component market. This creates a challenging scenario for those planning new builds or upgrades, forcing a tough choice between investing in graphics power or system memory.
Recent data reveals the extent of the price increases. In August 2025, a 16GB (2 x 8GB) kit of Patriot Viper Venom DDR-6000 RAM cost $49; it now sells for $110. Similarly, Team T-Force Vulcan 32GB DDR5-6000 has jumped from $82 to $310 in the same timeframe. Even older DDR4 modules have seen significant increases, with Silicon Power 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 rising from $34 to $89.
Solid-state drive (SSD) prices are also affected, though to a lesser degree. A Western digital WD Blue SN5000 500GB SSD increased from $45 to $69, while the 1TB version rose from $64 to $111. Higher-capacity drives,like the Western Digital WD Black SN7100 2TB,saw a jump from $130 to $175. The most substantial increases are concentrated in higher-capacity RAM kits; a Team Delta RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-6400 kit has surged from $190 to $700.
Industry analysts attribute the RAM price surge to the AI boom, which requires massive amounts of high-bandwidth memory. This increased demand,combined with supply constraints and anticipatory buying,has created a “perfect storm” driving up costs. Experts advise consumers considering RAM upgrades to postpone purchases if possible, as prices are unlikely to stabilize in the short term.
