PC gamers looking to upgrade their RAM kits may be priced out of buying one, as RAM prices have soared by over triple the amount they were in September, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The RAM price spike affecting PC gaming will invariably affect the price of consoles, smartphones, and other modern devices that need RAM to function at all.
The recent increases in RAM prices are due to an October deal that OpenAI, the company responsible for the popular ChatGPT, made with both Samsung and SK Hynix, two of the largest manufacturers of RAM and other components in the world. The deal between OpenAI, Samsung, and SK Hynix resulted in OpenAI reserving 40% of global RAM stock for the Stargate data center expansion project, with $500 billion being poured into the ongoing, four-year effort. Along with its server expansion plans, OpenAI has recently drawn the ire of Japanese game companies for copyright infringement due to its products, like the Sora 2 video generator, being trained on materials that resemble content from Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and other Japanese studios.
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RAM Kit Prices Have More Than Tripled Since October
After OpenAI made its deal with SK Hynix and Samsung, the prices of RAM kits began to take an unfortunate turn for consumers across the globe. A 2x16GB kit of DDR5-6000 RAM that originally cost $90 in September 2025 on Amazon has more than tripled in price, up to $290 as of this writing. Although DDR4 RAM kits have also been affected to a lesser degree, the biggest price jumps have invariably affected DDR5 RAM across the board. This ongoing fluctuation in RAM prices has reportedly caused retailers like Micro Center to take down any fixed prices in its stores. Ergo, retailers are instead telling PC builders to consult with a sales associate for pricing and additional information about the RAM kits they want.
The RAM price spike will go beyond the PC building space, and invariably affect the prices of consoles and smart devices throughout 2025 and 2026 at least. According to rumors, Microsoft is allegedly contemplating another price increase on Xbox consoles due to the ongoing RAM price surge, though it is not clear when or by how much it would change its prices.
Additionally, the Steam Machine’s price has not yet been revealed by Valve as a result of the ongoing RAM pricing surge. Only time will tell how long it will take before prices start to stabilize.
Source: PCPartPicker
