The RAM shortage driven by Big Tech's AI demands—which has already raised PC prices, curbed AI PC hype, and prompted OEM adjustments—continues reshaping the industry into 2026. Price spikes for standalone DDR5 RAM kits hit 300 to 400 percent by late 2025, with effects now rippling to graphics cards, high-capacity SSDs, and even traditional hard drives as supplies tighten.
By late 2025, DDR5 RAM kits for consumers surged three to four times in price, while SSD costs roughly doubled for 500GB to 2TB capacities compared to August 2025. This supply crunch is shifting to graphics processing units, where manufacturers prioritize pricier models. Asus briefly announced discontinuing its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (16GB GDDR7, partially disabled GB203 chip like RTX 5080), later retracting, but street prices reflect strain: $1,050-$1,100 vs. $749 MSRP for RTX 5070 Ti; $1,500-$1,600 vs. $999 for RTX 5080. Lower-end RTX 5070 ($560-$570 vs. $549) and Radeon RX 9070 ($580 vs. $549) are closer to MSRP, though RX 9070 XT reaches $730-$750 from $599.
High-capacity SSDs face the sharpest increases. 1TB M.2 drives from Western Digital or Samsung cost $120-$150. 2TB models like Silicon Power are ~$230, but premiums are pricier or scarce: WD SN7100 2TB at $370 (down from $490), Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2TB at $440 (up from $177 mid-Dec 2025). 4TB options include Crucial P310 at $345 and Silicon Power UD90 at $360, with bigger brands limited.
Traditional hard drives see milder rises amid broader pressures: 6TB WD Red NAS from $140 (Aug 2025) to $160; 12TB Seagate IronWolf from $240 to $270; 16TB from $330 to $350. These trends are altering consumer buying patterns across the PC sector.
