The gaming world faces an unexpected crisis this holiday season. Memory module prices have skyrocketed so dramatically that a 64GB DDR5 kit now costs as much as a PlayStation 5 Disc Edition. Between October and December 2025, prices doubled or even tripled, marking the fastest spike in memory costs in recent history. Retailers like Micro Center abandoned fixed pricing entirely, switching to spot-market rates that fluctuate daily. For PC builders and families planning upgrades, the choice has become stark: pay unprecedented prices or postpone purchases indefinitely.
The Unprecedented Price Surge
In just two months, the memory market experienced a transformation that caught industry insiders off guard. Corsair Vengeance kits and TeamGroup modules saw significant increases, with some consumer prices climbing 70 to 180 percent depending on capacity and brand. The volatility forced retailers to adopt real-time pricing models, leaving consumers unable to predict costs from one day to the next. This represents the most severe memory shortage since 2017-2018, when prices posted their biggest annual increase in 47 percent year-over-year according to industry analysts, persisting over more than a year.
AI Infrastructure’s Relentless Demand
The root cause traces directly to artificial intelligence expansion. Since early 2024, data centers have consumed an ever-larger share of global memory production, prioritizing high-end chips like HBM3E and RDIMM for server infrastructure. By late 2025, semiconductor manufacturers had begun deprioritizing consumer-grade DDR5 and DDR4 production entirely. Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—the three companies that collectively dominate DRAM production—have focused on server memory, where demand from AI infrastructure commands premium pricing. This structural shift means relief won’t come quickly; as long as AI infrastructure continues expanding, consumer memory will remain scarce.
Global Supply Chain Strain
The shortage reached critical levels by early November 2025. Japanese retailers in Akihabara began limiting purchases to just a few modules per customer, a precautionary measure against hoarding and scalping. By mid-November, Taiwanese memory distributors introduced an unprecedented tactic: customers could only purchase DRAM modules if they also bought a motherboard. Framework, a boutique PC manufacturer, halted standalone memory sales in late October to prevent price inflation from scalpers. These extraordinary measures signal how dire the situation has become across the world’s largest PC markets.
Market Panic and Shifting Purchasing Patterns
Panic-buying has accelerated the crisis. Major manufacturers including Asus and MSI began hoarding RAM from the spot market in late 2025 to secure supplies, a strategy that only exacerbated price inflation. Motherboard sales from these brands weakened noticeably as consumers postponed builds. Holiday 2025 PC sales are expected to decline significantly; a mid-range gaming system that cost $1,200 in 2024 now runs $1,500 to $1,800. Many consumers are abandoning DIY builds entirely, opting instead for pre-built systems where original equipment manufacturers absorb some costs—though even these have become increasingly expensive.
Uncertain Timeline for Recovery
Industry analysts offer conflicting timelines for resolution. Some predict stabilization by mid-2026, while others warn the shortage may persist until 2027 or beyond. The uncertainty has left consumers hesitant to purchase, waiting for relief that may never arrive. Without significant adjustments in production capacity, the situation could worsen before improving. For PC gamers, this pricing crisis represents more than a temporary inconvenience; it signals a potential permanent shift in the gaming landscape, where high-end PC upgrades become luxury purchases rather than accessible options for mainstream consumers.
Sources:
RAM prices have increased ‘500%,’ PC builder claims
Tom’s Hardware | November 25, 2025
Framework stops selling standalone RAM to ward off scalpers
Tom’s Hardware | November 24, 2025
Explainer: This is why memory and storage is so expensive
PC Gamer | November 25, 2025
DRAM prices skyrocket 171% year-over-year, outpacing even GPU price surges
Tom’s Hardware | November 3, 2025
Samsung and other memory manufacturers reportedly leave DDR5 buyers hanging
PC Gamer | November 2, 2025
Samsung Electronics raises 32GB DDR5 prices 60% in one month
TechCentral | November 16, 2025