32GB DDR5 6000 RAM Hits $450 as AI-Driven Memory Surge Passes 500%

The cheapest 32GB DDR5 6000 RAM kit on the market has reached $449.97—just three cents shy of $450—and is up from $400 in August as the AI-induced PC component shortage continues to worsen, according to daily price tracking by Tom's Hardware. Overall RAM prices have surged by more than 500% since last year, pushing even slower 32GB DDR5 4800 kits at Corsair to $399 after they once sold for just $80. Rising memory and component costs are already weighing on the broader hardware market, with reported 3Q26 PC shipments dropping 20% and the top three vendors shipping 11.6M fewer units than in the same period last year. DIY builders currently find limited relief in pre-built systems—where price hikes trickle down more slowly—and Newegg hardware bundles that can save up to $358 when pairing RAM with a CPU, motherboard, or SSD, while industry figures warn the shortage could persist well into next year or last up to a decade.