AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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The AI-induced shortage of PC components continues to drive up costs for DIY builders. Since last year, RAM prices have risen by over 500% with no sign of slowing down. In August, the price of DDR5 6000 RAM was reported at $400; today, that same specification costs $450. This specific memory type is considered a standard benchmark for performance and pricing in the industry.

As of today, the cheapest 32GB DDR5 6000 kit available costs $449.97. While cheaper options exist, such as a 32GB DDR5 4800 kit priced at $399 from Corsair, high-speed memory is significantly harder to purchase than before. The previously common 4800 Corsair kit once cost only $80.

These price increases are affecting the entire PC market. Recent data shows that PC shipments in the third quarter of 2026 dropped by 20%, with top vendors shipping 11.6 million fewer units compared to the same period last year. Although combo deals on platforms like Newegg can save consumers up to $358, pre-built systems are also seeing price hikes trickling down from these component costs.