The RAM Price Crisis is Getting Worse

Back when we published our first article on the RAM crisis in November, DRAM contract prices had increased 171% year-over-year. We documented DDR5-6000 32GB kits that had jumped from around $95 in mid-2025 to approximately $184 by October.

In the weeks between November and December 2025, Samsung delivered a bombshell to manufacturers: DDR5 contract prices jumped another 100%, pushing spot prices for memory chips to nearly $20 per unit. TeamGroup’s general manager reported that some December contract prices increased 80-100% month-over-month compared to November.

For reference, spot market tracking shows the acceleration: on September 20, 2025, a 16Gb DDR5 chip averaged $6.84. By November 19, that had spiked to $24.83. As of December, the average hit $27.20, with session highs reaching $37.

Let’s revisit some of the specific models we mentioned in November and see where they landed.

According to PCPartPicker data tracking through early December:

• DDR5-6000 32GB kits: ~$120 (May) → ~$410 (December) = 242% increase
• DDR5-5600 64GB kits: ~$180 (May) → ~$710 (December) = 294% increase
• DDR5-6000 64GB kits: ~$210 (May) → ~$750 (December) = 257% increase

• DDR4-3200 16GB: ~$50 (May) → ~$120 (December) = 140% increase
• DDR4-3600 32GB: ~$90 (May) → ~$240 (December) = 167% increase
• DDR4-3600 64GB: ~$180 (May) → ~$470 (December) = 161% increase

The G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 32GB kit we mentioned has gone from around $87 in early 2025 to hitting $399 on Amazon as of mid-December. That same kit briefly touched $380 before climbing even higher. The Corsair Vengeance DDR5 6000 32GB CL30 that sold for $89.99 in November 2024 now commands $427.99 at its peak, though it’s currently “reduced” to around $380-400 depending on retailer.

Some retailers have stopped listing prices entirely. Micro Center reportedly removed price tags from memory kits in some locations, moving to spot pricing instead. This is unprecedented behavior in consumer electronics retail and signals just how volatile the market has become.

Here’s the part that should concern anyone building or upgrading a PC: industry analysts are now saying we haven’t hit peak pricing yet.

TeamGroup’s general manager Gerry Chen warned that December contract prices for some DRAM and NAND categories increased 80-100% month-over-month. He expects availability to worsen significantly in Q1 and Q2 2026 once distribution stockpiles run dry. At that point, according to Chen, obtaining allocation could become difficult “regardless of willingness to pay.”

The timeline for normalization keeps getting pushed further out. Chen projects shortages extending into late 2027 and potentially beyond. Other industry sources are echoing similar warnings, with multiple reports citing Q4 2027 as the earliest potential relief point.

CyberPowerPC announced it would raise prices on all systems starting December 7, citing a 500% increase in global memory prices and 100% increase in SSD prices. That’s not a typo: 500%. Framework raised its DDR5 memory upgrade prices by 50% and warned that further increases are “highly likely.”

RAM prices don’t exist in a vacuum. The shortage is beginning to affect the entire PC ecosystem.

Motherboard sales have reportedly dropped 40-50% compared to the same period in 2024. When people see that upgrading from DDR4 to DDR5 now requires spending $400-750 on memory alone, they’re delaying builds or canceling plans entirely. CPU and motherboard manufacturers are reportedly reconsidering their Q1 2026 targets because memory has become the bottleneck.

Graphics card prices are also climbing. GDDR6 and GDDR7 memory chips used in GPUs are facing the same supply constraints. Overclockers UK warned customers to buy GPUs now, as 2026 will see significant price increases once current stock sells through. Reports suggest price increases of $15-30 per card depending on VRAM configuration.

We covered last month that Microsoft was reportedly pausing production of new Xboxes due to the shortage, and if things keep going the way they are, more console price hikes are likely on the way.

Even Apple, with its considerable buying power and margins, is expected to see memory become a significantly larger share of the iPhone bill of materials in early 2026. The company may need to reassess pricing strategies or reduce planned price cuts on older models.

If you read our November article and acted on it, congratulations, you’ve already captured some serious profits. If you ignored it thinking prices would stabilize, well, you’re smarter than us.

The resale opportunity has actually gotten stronger since November because:

1. Prices are still climbing: Modules you list today could sell for even more next week as retail stock continues depleting
2. Retail is running dry: Major online retailers are showing “out of stock” status on popular kits, driving buyers to secondary markets
3. Buyers are desperate: People who delayed their builds in November are now facing even worse prices and limited availability

Check eBay sold listings for DDR5 and you’ll see used modules regularly selling at or above current retail prices. In some cases, properly listed used RAM is commanding premiums over retail because buyers assume retail will be out of stock or higher priced by the time they receive it.

We told readers last time to list everything they had. We’re saying that again, but you could potentially keep riding price hikes for further profits (if you’re brave). Most resellers stand to lock in triple digit profits already, so you’ll need to determine when enough is enough.

Buying new stock to flip is riskier now than it was in November because retail prices are already inflated. You’d be buying near the top hoping for even higher peaks. That’s speculation, not smart reselling.

The safer play remains watching for:

• Small retailers slow to reprice inventory
• Clearance sales from stores trying to move stock quickly
• Pricing errors (rare but still happening)
• Bundles where RAM is undervalued relative to other components

Japanese PC shops are limiting RAM purchases to one kit per customer. That’s a clear signal of where market sentiment stands.

Industry consensus points to worsening conditions through at least mid-2026.

Q1 2026: Prices expected to spike again as distribution stockpiles exhaust. Manufacturers have warned of 20-30% additional increases as contract pricing fully reflects current spot market rates.

Q2 2026: Peak pricing likely hits around this timeframe. Some analysts project DDR5 64GB RDIMM modules could cost double their early 2025 prices by end of Q2 2026. Consumer DDR5 32GB kits could exceed $500 at retail.

H2 2026: Possible stabilization begins as new fab capacity comes online. Micron’s new DRAM facilities in New York and Japan are scheduled to begin production in second half of the decade. SK Hynix is ramping its M16 fab, though meaningful supply increases won’t hit the market until late 2026 at earliest.

2027: Normalization expected to begin, but TeamGroup and other manufacturers warn this could extend into 2028 depending on whether AI infrastructure buildout continues at current pace.

Several factors could change this timeline:

RAM prices haven’t just continued climbing since November, they’ve accelerated. What looked like a 170% year-over-year increase in early November has expanded to 200-300% increases for many popular configurations by mid-December.

If you have spare RAM modules, list them immediately. Don’t wait for higher prices, capture these inflated values now while retail availability is still somewhat functional. If you’re hunting for arbitrage opportunities, only buy at legitimate below-market prices and be prepared to flip quickly.

This is a sustained supply shock driven by fundamental shifts in memory production allocation. The AI boom isn’t slowing down, manufacturers aren’t pivoting back to consumer production, and industry analysts are unanimous that relief won’t come until at least late 2026.

The opportunity is real, but the window is narrowing as retail stock depletes and prices climb beyond what casual buyers will pay. List your inventory, take your profits, and don’t get greedy holding for higher peaks that might never materialize.