DDR5 RAM Prices Skyrocket: Memory Stick Now Costs More Than a PS5

In a shocking turn of events for the gaming hardware market, the cost of high-performance PC memory chips has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. The rising numbers have created a scenario where a single stick of RAM now costs more than a brand-new PlayStation 5 console. While Black Friday deals are currently making consoles more accessible, PC builders are facing a financial nightmare as artificial intelligence companies aggressively acquire global supplies of memory components. 

This aggressive demand has driven the price of DDR5 memory up significantly, turning what was once a routine upgrade into a luxury expense that surpasses the cost of entire gaming systems.

The disparity in pricing is stark when observing current market listings. A single 64GB DDR5 RAM stick, such as the Crucial 64GB DDR5 5600, is currently selling for around $500. For gamers looking for the "sweet spot" of performance with a standard 64GB setup, the news is even worse. A pair of 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5 6000s will set a buyer back by $599. 

To put this into perspective, a standard PlayStation 5 retails for between $450 and $550, while recent holiday bundles, such as the PS5 Fortnite edition, have dropped as low as $399.99. Effectively, a gamer could buy a console and have money left over for games for less than the price of the RAM required to run a high-end PC.

Booming Generative AI Industry

The primary driver behind this inflation is the booming generative AI industry. According to tracking data from Tom’s Hardware, the RAM market has surged by a staggering 190% in just the last two months alone. Tech giants are currently in a race to secure massive amounts of memory and storage components to power data centres and train Large Language Models (LLMs). 

This "hoovering up" of resources has created a global supply squeeze, leaving little inventory for the average consumer and allowing manufacturers to raise prices to match the scarcity.

For enthusiasts seeking top-tier performance, the costs have become astronomical. Current listings on major retailers like Newegg reveal that a premium kit of two sticks of 64GB (128GB) Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM now costs $1,485.

While 128GB is admittedly decadent for most users—perhaps only necessary for a Cities: Skylines player loading thousands of mods—the price point highlights the absurdity of the market. This single memory kit costs roughly three times the price of a standard console, or enough to purchase two PlayStation 5 Pros with change to spare.

Component Shortage Bleeding Into Consoles

Unfortunately, this component shortage is beginning to bleed into the console and handheld markets as well. The Xbox Series X has already seen price fluctuations, currently sitting around $649.99 due to similar component constraints. 

Furthermore, this trend casts a shadow over Valve's upcoming Steam Machine. Originally hoped to be a competitively priced entry into PC gaming, analysts now fear the device will be produced during these unprecedented market conditions, potentially forcing it to launch as an expensive pre-built PC rather than a budget-friendly console alternative. 

With AI development expected to continue its rapid growth well into 2026, gamers are left with a difficult choice: pay a premium for PC components or pivot to the relative stability of console gaming.