RAM Shortage Is Driving Up Computer Costs — Here’s Why Now Is the Time to Evaluate Your Systems
If you’ve been planning hardware upgrades for 2026, there’s a major industry shift you need to know about: global RAM prices are climbing sharply, and analysts expect this trend to continue well into 2026 and possibly beyond.
According to recent industry reports, the surge in AI data‑center demand is pulling memory supply away from consumer and business PCs. DRAM manufacturers are prioritizing high‑margin AI‑oriented memory like HBM, leaving fewer wafers and production lines available for standard DDR4 and DDR5.
As a result:
- DDR5 chip prices jumped from ~$6.84 to ~$27.20 in Q4 2025
- DDR5 module prices have increased 120–200% year-over-year
- PC makers are warning customers to expect higher system prices through 2026
This is a structural shift in the semiconductor market. With memory suppliers reallocating capacity to AI workloads, traditional PC components are becoming more expensive and harder to source.
If your business is running aging desktops, laptops or servers, you may be stuck with systems that are not supported by your Managed Service Provider (MSP) or systems that just can’t support current workloads.
This is the time to:
- Assess the health and lifecycle of your current hardware
- Prioritize upgrades for mission-critical roles
- Plan for extended lifecycle management
