Gamers who build their own PCs are finding it increasingly expensive to upgrade their RAM, with prices more than tripling since September and no relief in sight. This jump in RAM costs isn’t just impacting gaming PCs, though – it’s likely to also raise the prices of consoles, smartphones, and other devices that rely on RAM.
Recent price hikes in RAM (computer memory) are linked to a deal made last October between OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and major memory manufacturers Samsung and SK Hynix. OpenAI secured 40% of the world’s RAM supply for a massive, four-year expansion of its data centers, investing $500 billion in the project. However, OpenAI is also facing criticism from Japanese game companies like Square Enix and Bandai Namco, who claim its AI tools, such as the Sora 2 video generator, were trained using their copyrighted content without permission.
RAM Kit Prices Have More Than Tripled Since October
Following a deal between OpenAI and memory manufacturers SK Hynix and Samsung, the cost of RAM has significantly increased for consumers worldwide. For example, a 2x16GB kit of DDR5-6000 RAM that cost around $90 on Amazon in September 2025 is now selling for over $290. While DDR4 RAM prices have also risen, the increases have been much more dramatic for DDR5. This price instability has led some retailers, like Micro Center, to remove fixed prices for RAM. Instead, they are now requiring customers to check with a sales associate for current pricing and details.
As a gamer, I’m really worried about the rising cost of RAM. It’s not just affecting PC builds, it looks like it’s going to drive up the price of consoles and even smart devices for at least the next couple of years. I’m hearing rumors that Microsoft might even raise the price of Xbox consoles again because of this, though we don’t know exactly when or by how much yet. It’s a frustrating situation for everyone!
Valve hasn’t announced the Steam Machine’s price yet, largely because the cost of RAM is currently increasing. It’s unclear when RAM prices will settle down, which is delaying the announcement.
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2025-11-25 20:06