"Not funny anymore" – RAM prices are skyrocketing, and the community points to one culprit
Reddit is buzzing with frustration. In a thread titled "These RAM prices aren't funny anymore, guys," PC enthusiasts are voicing concerns over the steep rise in DDR5 RAM costs. In recent months, prices have climbed by 30 to 50%. According to the German price comparison site Idealo, for example, the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB kit – currently listed at around €183 including shipping at Swiss retailer Galaxus – was previously available for roughly €120, marking an increase of about 50%.
The Reddit community has already pointed fingers at what it sees as the main cause behind the rising prices: the AI boom. Data centers powering artificial intelligence are driving unprecedented demand for DRAM. Cloud giants such as Amazon, Microsoft and OpenAI are buying massive quantities of memory to fuel the training and deployment of AI models. Memory manufacturer Adata has even warned of an “acute supply shortage” and is now prioritizing bulk orders from major clients – leaving the retail market increasingly understocked.
Speculation is swirling on Reddit that OpenAI may have secured as much as 40% of the world’s DRAM supply for the long term. For many users, the situation feels like déjà vu, drawing clear comparisons to the crypto-mining boom that once sent GPU prices soaring. While AI demand is seen as the main driver, the community suspects additional factors at play. Some believe manufacturers are inflating prices ahead of Black Friday to make upcoming discounts look more appealing, while others point to shifting production priorities – with DDR4 gradually being phased out in favor of DDR5, driving up costs for older systems as well. According to Adata, DDR5 prices could rise by another 30% by the end of 2026. For anyone planning an upgrade, it might be wise to weigh the cost of DDR5 carefully – or consider whether patience could be the smarter investment this time around.
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