lucadelladora – DDR5 memory prices are climbing sharply, with some 192GB kits now exceeding $2,250, according to VideoCardz. Prices have surged nearly 200% for popular 16GB and 32GB consumer kits since the start of summer. However, larger memory kits are now affected as well. Making ultra-high capacity modules more expensive than even the most powerful graphics cards.
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Corsair’s 192GB Vengeance kit, consisting of four 48GB sticks running at 5,200 MT/s, carries a $2,249 price tag. This exceeds the original MSRP of Nvidia’s RTX 5090, which currently sells between $2,500 and $3,000. Some analysts suggest that system memory could soon become more expensive than high-end GPUs, especially for enthusiasts building large, high-performance rigs.
Global supply challenges are driving these price increases. VideoCardz also reports on Asgard Valkyrie’s 256GB kit, which costs 17,000 Yuan, or approximately $2,400 before taxes, and a 192GB kit with tight CL28-36-36-72 timings at 6,000 MT/s, priced at 16,500 Yuan, about $2,330. Rising costs are fueled by Micron’s exit from the consumer memory market and other manufacturers shifting focus to HBM and low-power DDR memory for enterprise and AI markets.
Consumers looking to upgrade or build high-capacity systems will likely face increased expenses. Retailers such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo have announced impending price increases, signaling that these trends may persist well into 2026 and beyond.
Industry Shifts and the Future of Consumer Memory
The consumer memory market is undergoing significant structural changes, influencing prices and availability. Major manufacturers are redirecting production toward enterprise solutions and AI applications, reducing supply for gaming and personal computing.
High-capacity DDR5 kits, once niche products, are now subject to steep inflation due to limited availability. Enthusiasts building 128GB or 192GB systems must budget heavily, as prices now rival or exceed the cost of high-end GPUs. Tight memory timings and higher speeds also command premium pricing, adding to the overall expense.
Micron’s closure of its Crucial brand in the consumer sector further tightens supply. Other manufacturers are pivoting to HBM and low-power DDR for AI servers, making consumer DDR5 increasingly rare. This combination of reduced production and sustained demand is expected to maintain elevated prices in 2026.
Analysts warn that these trends could have ripple effects across the PC market. Systems requiring high memory capacity for content creation, AI research, or gaming may see cost increases, and budget-conscious consumers may face delays in upgrading. Companies like HP, Dell, and Lenovo plan to pass these increases to customers, indicating that system prices could rise across the board.
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In summary, DDR5 memory prices are climbing to unprecedented levels due to limited supply and shifting industry priorities. Consumers seeking large-capacity kits should prepare for significant expense, while high-end GPUs may temporarily appear more affordable in comparison. The memory market’s current trajectory suggests that affordability challenges will continue through 2026 and possibly beyond.
