Costco Reportedly Removing RAM from Display PCs

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Costco is taking the RAM out of its display computers at some stores because of increasing concerns about theft, likely due to the high cost of RAM. The price of RAM has risen sharply recently because of shortages, impacting the gaming and electronics industries. The growing popularity of AI is contributing to increased demand, and companies like Nvidia and Samsung have adjusted their production plans, while many others have raised prices. These ongoing production problems could continue to affect PC users for some time.

The current shortage of RAM (random access memory) is likely to cause widespread problems for the electronics industry, going beyond just higher prices. There are concerns it could even delay the release of new gaming consoles from Sony and Microsoft. Micron, a major chip manufacturer, predicts the shortage could last until at least 2026. Now, Costco is taking steps to adapt to this ongoing RAM crisis.

Costco is Removing RAM from Display PCs Amid Theft Concerns

Customers on Reddit have noticed that some Costco stores are now displaying pre-built desktop PCs without RAM installed. Photos show empty RAM slots in the computers on display. People believe this change is to prevent theft, as there have been reports of customers stealing RAM chips directly from the display models. Costco hasn’t confirmed these thefts or explained why they’re removing the RAM.

Recently, with computer part shortages, there’s been an increase in RAM being stolen from display computers at Costco. However, it doesn’t seem like a company-wide policy change. Instead, individual store managers are making the decision to remove RAM – and even graphics cards (GPUs) – from the display PCs for security reasons. Some Costcos are now showing completely empty computer cases, with a sign listing the computer’s specifications.

The Ongoing RAM Shortages Could Have Long-Lasting Implications

A shortage of RAM is causing significant problems for the tech industry. Some companies are even stopping production of RAM for everyday consumers. For example, Micron recently announced it will discontinue its Crucial brand of consumer RAM and SSDs to concentrate on serving companies developing artificial intelligence. There are also reports that Nvidia may reduce its production of graphics cards (GPUs) by as much as 40% in 2026. The situation is severe – prices for RAM chips reportedly tripled in a single month back in November.

Image via Nvidia

The global shortage of RAM is causing problems for the electronics industry, but there are a few positive signs. Nintendo believes the upcoming Switch 2 won’t be affected, although that could change. Also, rumors suggest Nvidia might bring back production of the popular RTX 3060 graphics card. Many companies are already adapting to the RAM shortage, and we can expect more adjustments in the future.

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2026-01-30 00:40