DDR5 RAM prices could improve in 6 months, as Sapphire GPU PR manager says don't panic buy

With startling DDR5 prices, the doom and gloom surrounding memory costs grows. The crisis affects gamers looking to complete new PC builds. It also threatens the MSRPs of other components, like GPUs that rely on VRAM. However, the Sapphire PR manager is urging buyers to be patient. Unlike other predictions, Edward Crisler expects prices to level off in as few as six months.

Noticed by Wccftech, Crisler appeared on The Hardware Unboxed Podcast, where one segment focused on the DRAM dilemma. He acknowledges that the current situation is dire and may be worse than most buyers realize. If memory prices are unreasonable, some gamers may avoid buying cases, motherboards, and other parts. That would have a devastating impact on the entire hardware industry.

Despite the dreary short-term outlook, he has a more optimistic projection after 6-8 months. The Sapphire representative explains that “there's a lot of uncertainty taking place in the market.” With this confusion, some buyers are anticipating the worst-case scenario.

The history of PC hardware panic buying

Crisler compares the recent situation to when U.S. tariffs surfaced. Some vendors reacted by immediately revising inventory on products not directly affected by the fees. While some parts remain more expensive, the increases now aren’t as severe as seen with DDR5 price hikes.

As reassuring as Crisler’s comments may seem, many analysts don’t have such a rosy forecast. Signs that memory costs may remain inflated until at least 2028 come from the DRAM manufacturers themselves. Dominant players like Samsung and SK Hynix are reluctant to expand production, even with incredible demand from AI data centers. Accumulating an oversupply could threaten their future profits.

Even if DDR5 memory doesn’t become more affordable, Crisler is confident that buyers will adapt. He notes how enthusiasts showed resilience when other components became scarce or expensive. One more challenging approach is to use less memory in laptops and desktops. Whether or not a manufacturer finds a solution, gamers have been able to optimize older hardware and configurations.