RAM prices are skyrocketing, and industry insiders expect even further pressure as demand is fueled by the rapid expansion of AI computing and data centers.

The average price for a DDR5-6000 32GB memory kit, which is considered a sweet spot for many systems, now costs around $240. For the past year, until October, such a kit could be acquired for around $120, according to PCPartPicker data.

For example, the G.Skill Flare X5, a popular 32GB DDR5-6000 CL36 memory kit, was retailing at around $90 at the beginning of October. Now, the price has jumped to around $250.

The price increases are even sharper for larger memory kits.

Users report that DDR5 memory kit prices have more than doubled in just a few weeks.

“The RAM I bought earlier this year, before Trump tariffs, was $300. Now it’s $600+,” one of many tweets on X reads.

Prices cascade from the DRAM spot market

According to DigiTimes, a Taiwanese daily newspaper specializing in tech industry news, the memory shortage continues to worsen, with DRAM spot prices having doubled since last month.

Samsung and other major manufacturers suspended DDR5 DRAM contract pricing in October, and their supply strategies are expected to become even more stringent in the future.

Industry insiders expect prices to rise further in the fourth quarter of 2025 and reach new records in the first half of 2026, as manufacturers gradually shift production capacity towards more profitable HBM products for AI computing.

In just one week DRAM spot prices jumped 30% amid tight supply, according to the latest TrendForce report.

​​”Buyers are snapping up quotes immediately, sending spot prices soaring,” the report reads.

The market is experiencing severe hoarding as buyers purchase the available module supply immediately after receiving quotes. This exacerbates short-term supply issues.

TrendForce also quotes “zero availability” of NAND products on the market, driving prices for storage and also end products, such as smartphones.

As suppliers prioritize high-margin data center markets, leaving less availability for consumer hardware, many tech reviewers suggest that Black Friday may not bring any discounts this year, and the situation might lead to lower PC sales overall.

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