2025 RAM Shortage Triples Prices, Threatening PC and Console Markets
The RAM shortage in 2025 is intensifying, with computer stores in the Bay Area like Central Computers adjusting RAM prices daily, similar to checking fresh seafood at a restaurant each morning, according to Michael Crider from PCWorld. The high volatility in costs makes fixed pricing impossible. Several Micro Center locations have adopted a similar approach, asking customers to check prices with staff instead of posting them publicly, reflecting chaos in the supply chain caused by AI consuming nearly all production capacity.
Consumers are feeling the impact immediately. A 32GB RAM kit that Crider purchased three months ago for $130 has now surged past $440, an increase of over 200 percent. Other popular models have risen from $105 to $400, while 64GB DDR5 kits can easily reach $700–$900. Tom’s Hardware confirms that DRAM prices have climbed 170 percent year-over-year, with Samsung increasing chip prices by 60 percent, leaving PC manufacturers struggling to keep up.
The crisis isn’t limited to PCs—it affects all tech devices that rely on RAM, from smartphones and game consoles to TVs. Valve has postponed Steam Machine pricing updates due to the unstable RAM market, and Taiwanese motherboard manufacturers have halted new product development until prices stabilize. PC Gamer reports that the shortage could last until 2026, as chip factories prioritize HBM production for AI instead of standard DRAM.
Even though GPU prices have stabilized after the early-year crisis, rising RAM costs are pressuring Nvidia and AMD to adjust graphics card prices again, particularly for models with 10GB or more VRAM. Digital Foundry recommends buying GPUs at MSRP before VRAM costs push prices higher. Tom’s Hardware reports that manufacturers like Asus and MSI are scrambling to pre-order RAM in bulk to sustain production, but a price surge of over 100 percent in recent months may send the GPU market back into frenzy.
Microsoft may be forced to raise Xbox prices for the third time this year, warning partners that RAM shortages will soon hit hard. According to Moore’s Law Is Dead, Xbox Series X/S uses GDDR6, which is scarce, while Sony has sufficient RAM stock for PS5 until mid-2026, avoiding immediate price changes. NotebookCheck warns that an Xbox price hike could reduce sales by up to 29 percent.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has cautioned that this crisis will slow the recovery of high-end gaming for years, as AI-driven demand consumes production capacity. OpenAI and major tech corporations are bidding for RAM at prices far exceeding those of conventional device manufacturers. Sweeney posted on X that this shift is harming consumer accessibility, potentially shrinking PC and smartphone markets in 2025. End users are advised to upgrade now before prices climb even higher.
Origin: The Verge
