The price of a 32GB DDR5 6000 kit has reached $450, according to Tom's Hardware. The cheapest kit on the market is $449.97, three cents short of $450. In August the same spec cost $400. The outlet tracks this configuration as a barometer for the industry because it is a de facto standard for performance and capacity.
The increase is part of a broader trend. RAM prices have climbed more than 500% since last year, and the AI-induced component shortage shows no sign of easing. Slower memory is cheaper but still expensive: a 32GB DDR5 4800 kit from Corsair is $399, a price that was once around $80.
The knock-on effects are visible in the PC market. Tom's Hardware reports that PC shipments in 3Q26 fell 20% year-over-year, with the top three vendors shipping 11.6 million fewer units. Combo deals and pre-built systems offer some relief, but industry warnings suggest memory shortages could persist well into next year or longer.