32GB DDR5 6000 RAM hits $450 as AI-driven memory shortage deepens

RAM prices cross another milestone

The AI-induced PC component shortage continues to push memory costs higher. According to daily price tracking, the cheapest 32GB DDR5 6000 kit on the market now costs $449.97, just three cents shy of the $450 mark. In August, the same specification had already reached $400, and since last year RAM prices have risen by more than 500%.

DDR5 6000 has become a de facto standard configuration in terms of performance and pricing, making it a strong barometer for the wider industry. Price tracking across multiple models and kits has shown the 32GB DDR5 6000 specification creeping toward $450 for some time.

Slower kits remain cheaper

Cheaper RAM is still available for buyers willing to sacrifice speed. A 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 4800 kit is listed at $399 at Newegg, a specification that once cost just $80. Even so, fast memory is now harder to buy than ever before, and the price gap between high-speed and mainstream kits keeps widening.

Knock-on effects for PCs and prebuilts

Rising RAM costs have a knock-on effect on PC pricing as a whole. It was recently reported that PC shipments in 3Q26 tumbled by a massive 20%, with the top three vendors shipping 11.6 million fewer units than in the same period last year.

Combo deals remain a rare bright spot. Various Newegg bundles can save buyers as much as $358 when purchasing RAM alongside a motherboard, CPU, or even an SSD, and stock of these bundles has recently resurged. Prebuilt systems also continue to offer some relief for would-be DIY builders, as price hikes trickle down to complete systems more slowly than to individual components.

Relief not in sight

Industry figures have warned that the memory shortage could persist well into next year, and some estimates suggest it could last up to a decade. In the space of just 12 months, RAM has gone from being a PC gaming commodity to a luxury few can afford without reconsidering their build budgets.

Sources: Tom's Hardware