Should you buy your PC before RAM prices climb more?
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Yes, if you were buying in the next few months anyway. DDR5 kit prices have climbed sharply since mid-2025 on an AI-driven memory shortage, and multiple manufacturers are warning of further hikes into 2027. Waiting to see if prices drop this cycle has not paid off so far.
| If you're planning to... | Our take |
|---|---|
| Build in the next 1–3 months anyway | Buy now. Every signal points to prices trending up, not down. |
| Still saving up, no fixed date | Lock your part list today so you know your real target, then re-check pricing before you actually order. |
| Waiting for next-gen GPUs to bring prices down | Those launches are running late and are rumoured to cost more, not less. Don't wait on that. |
| Only upgrading RAM, rest of the PC is fine | This is where waiting hurts most. RAM is the single fastest-moving price in a build right now. |
Why has RAM gotten this expensive, this fast?
The short version: AI data centres are buying up global DRAM production at a scale the memory industry didn't plan for, and consumer RAM is competing for the same factory capacity. TechRadar's tracking of PCPartPicker data shows DDR4 kits that sat around $70 to $90 for most of 2025 pushing past $150, with some listings closer to $600 by mid-2026.
It isn't limited to RAM either. SSD and GPU pricing are both being pulled along by the same memory-chip shortage, since GDDR and NAND come from the same manufacturers fighting for the same production lines.
How long is this expected to last?
Nobody serious is promising a quick fix. Executives at Framework have publicly warned of continued volatility and cost increases through the rest of 2026, and reporting on comments from SK Group's leadership points to a crunch that could run as long as 2030, well past earlier 2028 estimates. Read that as: this is not a two-month blip you should try to wait out.
From the floor
We don't have exact rupee-for-rupee numbers to give you here, because our own listings for RAM are going through a pricing review right now and we're not going to quote you a shelf price we're not confident in. What we can tell you honestly is that supplier price sheets have been moving often enough this year that we've stopped assuming last week's quote still holds. If RAM is the deciding line item in your build, check our current DDR5 kit listings for today's number before you commit to a budget, not after.
FAQ
Is RAM really more expensive than it was a year ago?
Yes, substantially. Multiple trackers cite DDR5 and DDR4 kits up anywhere from 70% to well over 150% year on year through 2026, depending on the specific kit and when you're comparing from. A 32GB kit that cost a modest sum in early 2025 can now cost two to three times that at some retailers, and the trend has held steady enough across brands that it clearly isn't a one-off pricing glitch at a single seller.
Will prices come back down soon?
Most industry voices are not promising that this year. Some forecasts point to 2027 for meaningful relief, and at least one memory industry executive has publicly floated a crunch lasting into 2030. Treat any plan built around waiting for prices to drop as a bet against the current trend, not a safe assumption, and price your build against today's numbers rather than a hoped-for future one.
Should I buy DDR4 instead since it's older?
Not purely to save money right now. DDR4 production lines are being wound down faster than DDR5 lines industry-wide, so DDR4 has actually gotten scarcer, and in some cases pricier, than the newer standard it was supposed to be the budget option against. Buy whichever standard your CPU platform actually needs rather than assuming the older generation is automatically the cheaper one this year.
Does this affect graphics card prices too?
Yes, though less sharply than RAM so far. GDDR memory used on graphics cards competes for the same factory capacity as system RAM, and both Nvidia and AMD have separately signalled price increases on top of that shared memory-cost pressure. If you're budgeting a full build, treat the GPU line item as one that could also move upward before you actually order.
What if my budget genuinely can't stretch to buy now?
Build with a plan rather than a full spec sheet in one go. Buy the CPU, motherboard and case now if those categories are holding steadier, and add RAM and the GPU when your budget allows it. Go in with your eyes open that those two categories may cost more later, not less, so budget a small buffer for them rather than assuming today's rough estimate will still hold.
Bring your budget and your timeline to the store and we'll tell you honestly whether today's number is worth locking in.
Related: What does a ₹50,000 gaming PC actually get you in India right now? · Why is your RAM running slower than the box says? · How much PSU wattage do you actually need?
Shreyansh Jain runs Get Right PC, second generation in Nehru Place. Published 14 September 2026.
