Story perspectives

2026 RAM Shortages Spike PC Build Costs Over $1,200

3/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

In 2026, RAM shortages driven by AI data centers pushed up prices for DDR5 and DDR4 memory, GPUs, and SSDs.
As a result, the typical DIY PC build cost rose from under $1,000 to over $1,200.
Therefore, purchasing a prebuilt PC may now be a more economical option for many users.

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Story summary

In 2026, RAM shortages driven by AI data centers pushed up prices for DDR5 and DDR4 memory, GPUs, and SSDs.
As a result, the typical DIY PC build cost rose from under $1,000 to over $1,200.
Therefore, purchasing a prebuilt PC may now be a more economical option for many users.