Custom PC builder Maingear has introduced a BYO RAM program to address the ongoing computer memory shortage. Customers can supply their own DDR5 RAM, which Maingear will install and test in built-to-order systems. The initiative comes as data center demands strain global RAM supplies.
The computer memory shortage, driven by massive investments in data centers for AI and other technologies, is complicating PC purchases. On Tuesday, Maingear, a prominent custom PC builder, launched its Bring Your Own (BYO) RAM program as an initial response to these supply constraints.
Under the program, customers ship their own DDR5 memory to Maingear, which then installs, optimizes, and tests it in the configured system. The company offers pre-purchase consultations to ensure compatibility. However, this option is limited: the RAM must be DDR5, introduced in 2020, so it typically requires systems less than five years old. Older DDR4 memory or soldered RAM from all-in-one PCs won't work, and even compatible DDR5 might underperform in newer setups due to speed differences.
Maingear co-founder and CEO Wallace Santos described the shortage as unusual during a media briefing. "We're being told it's going to take a year and a half until they ramp up their lines," he said, noting that memory manufacturers are hesitant to expand capacity amid long-term demand concerns. SK Hynix, a major supplier, predicts the crunch will persist through 2028.
Complicating matters, PC builders like Maingear don't source modules directly from chip makers. Instead, RAM passes through packagers, who are also facing shortages. Santos highlighted how larger players with deep pockets, including new entrants beyond traditional firms like Intel, are securing multi-year deals, sidelining consumer supplies. For instance, Micron recently shuttered its consumer-facing Crucial brand.
Prices remain unpredictable, with no clear stabilization in sight. While a downturn in data center funding could flood the market and lower costs, it might signal broader economic issues. The BYO program aims to ease bottlenecks for those with access to DDR5, though it benefits only a niche group.