Building or upgrading a gaming PC has become much more expensive in 2026, and memory prices are a major reason why. DDR5 RAM, which has become the standard memory choice for modern AMD and Intel machines, has suffered from massively inflated costs, with the problem becoming painfully obvious at the tail end of last year.

For many gamers and PC enthusiasts, 32GB of RAM is now considered the ideal amount for a new build. It provides enough headroom for modern games, multitasking, content creation, and future releases. However, the problem is that getting 32GB of DDR5 memory is far from cheap, and the situation is not really improving.

These seem to be the cheapest new 32GB DDR5 RAM kits

According to recent pricing data (via Tom’s Hardware), the cheapest 32GB DDR5 kits currently available start at around $375. Just a year ago, similar kits could often be found for under $100. That means the cost of a basic 32GB memory upgrade has increased by nearly four times.

• Silicon Power Zenith Gaming DDR5 6000MT/s (2x16GB)
• Silicon Power Zenith RGB DDR5 6000MT/s (2x16GB)
• Silicon Power Pulse Gaming DDR5 6000MT/s (2x16GB)
• Silicon Power Zenith RGB DDR5 6000MT/s (2x16GB)

Several Silicon Power kits are currently among the lowest-priced options on the market, but even those sit close to the $375 mark after discounts. More popular models from companies like Corsair, Crucial, and other premium brands can easily exceed $400, especially if buyers want RGB lighting or lower latency specifications.

The situation becomes even worse for users looking for higher capacities. Some 64GB DDR5 kits are now approaching $680, making large memory upgrades difficult to justify for many gamers. A major factor behind the price increase is the ongoing demand for AI hardware. Memory manufacturers are dedicating significant production capacity toward AI-related products, reducing supply for consumer PC components. As a result, DDR5 prices have continued climbing throughout the year.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be immediate relief on the horizon. Industry reports have suggested that memory supply constraints could remain an issue for several more years. This means builders planning a new PC may need to budget far more for RAM than they would have expected in previous generations.

Many prebuilt PC brands have started offering ‘bring-your-own-RAM’ programs as an attempt to help you save some cash, but a survey we ran on the site earlier this year suggests most people really just want to purchase a complete system.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.