So I have 256 GB RAM on my Intel-based PC, and I am super happy with the performance.
I am about to buy a PC for my wife, and out of morbid curiosity, I had a look at PC Specialists here in the UK, and the new and latest PCs.
I bought my RAM (DDR4) for about 670 pounds.
Now, to buy 192 GB RAM (DDR5), I have to fork out £2,232.99!!!
What on Earth is going on??
Does anyone know what has driven these prices to these ridiculous heights?
One of the biggest drivers is the massive build-out of AI data centers. Companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and others are buying huge amounts of memory for AI servers. Those systems need enormous amounts of DRAM, and manufacturers are prioritizing server and AI-related memory because it’s more profitable.
That means less production capacity is left for consumer memory like DDR5 used in PCs and workstations. The result is a supply shortage in the consumer market, which pushes prices up.
On top of that, the industry is also transitioning from DDR4 to DDR5, which adds additional supply pressure.
Most analysts currently think this situation could last for a while, possibly into 2027. So it’s not guaranteed that prices will drop back to the levels we were used to a few years ago. I actually heard this explained on the radio recently.
RAM is expensive right now because the newer DDR5 type is harder to make in large quantities, and big tech companies building AI servers are buying huge amounts of it before it reaches normal consumers. That leaves less supply for everyone else, so prices stay high.
I was lucky, I put 128GB of DDR5 in my machine a year or so ago.
Beware, do not buy 4 modules of DDR5, their controllers only support 2 modules at full speed. It’s not a limitation in motherboard but in actual DDR5.
If you plug 4 modules the memory should work but at price of significant decrease in speed.
4 modules working fine here. But I do build my own machines and understand the limitations. Usually best to go with a kit that is approved by the mobo manufacturer and, yes slowing the speed, (nothing else) will sometimes help. But saying that is “significant” is a bit misleading. Slowing RAM speed from 5200 to 4800 for example, will not have any noticeable effect on the system.
You are talking about changes on the scale of a few nanoseconds per memory access, which is millions of times smaller than the timing a windows DAW works with. Even a heavy project with hundreds of tracks will not gain or lose a single millisecond of processing time from that RAM speed drop.
Yes but considering the actual price, it is a parameter to consider, isn’t it ?
You buy very expensive DDR5 6400 MHz CL 38 and get something running at less than 5000 MHz… if you are lucky because this controller limitation could also cause system crash.
May be waiting for next RAM gen on the corner would be wise.
The sweat spot being 2 modules of 48 Gb to reach 96 Mb which is enough for majority of usages.
Sorry, I misunderstood I thought you were talking about technical aspects of using 4 sticks.
Yes, prices are high for sure.
The sweet spot for me, was as much as I could afford at the time. 
Not had any regrets tbh. But my work involves a lot of things that require it. (Not only DAW stuff).
All I was saying really is that “significant decrease in speed” is very misleading, when you understand the facts in terms of actual speed.
Damn, AI is not hugely profitable, though. The business model is unsustainable. The only reason the US is pushing hard on AI is not to be outdone by China.
Not to mention litigation battles, which AI is losing, this is insane…
I can still buy a very good PC, Intel-based, at a very good price, but the RAM…Damn…I think I should invest in buying a motherboard in case my current one fails. It will be far cheaper to maintain my current PC than to buy a new one…
I had hoped to build a new computer within the next year but between Ram and SSD prices being what they are that project has been put on hold. With that said, I am buying the non-volatile priced items i.e. PSU, Case, Fans etc. while I wait for the prices on the other items to get back to some sort of sane level.
From what I’ve read, these increased costs on the consumer level have really halted the enthusiast/DIY communities from engaging in new builds. None of the major retailers here in the US even advertise SSD’s or RAM on their splash screens anymore. They know that nobody’s buying this stuff right now.
It’s crazy, I’ve never seen anything like it. To get the PC I would need, if I didn’t have one, I would have to spend £7,000!! More than double what I have now…
Yep. The M.2 drive configuration I was anticipating installing would cost me around USD 1400.00. That’s just for the drives alone! YIKES!!!
You could always create a hit record that gets 2 billion streams on spotify and have the $35 they will pay you in royalties go towards expenses !
Welcome to the 21st century, where the owner of spotify pays himself $600 million a year and 600 million artists earn $10 a year.
64gig ram ddr5 by 2030 will be $1000, buy it now !!!
All the militaries in the world will be utilising AI, prices will surge, especially after the Iran war fiasco, every army on earth will want the AI tech US and Israel are using as part of there defence budgets.
In addition to data centers hogging hardware products we’ll have shipping issues to look forward to as well. Fortunately just a first-world problem.
It’s completely insane…
It’s just shocking, I cannot believe what’s happening right now.
This issue can put a lot of people out of work. I, for instance, can’t work with a PC that’s not top of the line…better start saving…
I think by 2030 the idea of having a PC is a luxury with the way things are going. Being a dedicated audio enthusiast is not for the faint hearted.
Best bet is to make sure your next build has a 10 year life cycle.
My age + history = I can absolutely believe it.
TBH , even the very high end PC is reasnobly priced, very much so, actually.
The ram though…
Indeed. Apple actually stopped offering 512gig on the Mac Studio M3 Ultras because of the shortage (reportedly) - they’ll only let you order up to 256g now on those guys for now.
I paid $169.99 for 64GB (2 X 32) Corsair DDR5 about 11 months ago. The same thing now will run you over $800.00. Absolutely sickening 
.
I just built a high end computer at the end of last year. It used to be you could save a lot of $$ by building vs buying the same off shelf. Not so much anymore.
I built this one to be (so called) “future proof”. Back in November, I bought 96G (2x48) of G.Skill 6400 CL32 for $550. The day before, it was $470 and almost rising daily. If I had bought parts the day I was shopping and checking compatibility, I would have saved hundreds. It wasn’t until I was satisfied with all the components that I made the purchases and I remember the regrets of not buying before hand as I sought them.
Lord, help us all!