RAM Prices 2026: Why They Are Rising & When to Buy

If you have been researching upgrades for your gaming rig or office laptops this January, you have likely noticed a painful trend: RAM prices 2026 are significantly higher than they were just six months ago.

According to recent industry reports, memory costs are not just fluctuating—they are climbing steadily. For many of our customers in Stockport and Manchester, this raises a big question: Should you buy now, or wait for the market to cool down? At AC Computer Warehouse, we want to give you the honest facts so you can make the right choice for your wallet.

Alt Text: RAM prices 2026 – silicon wafer manufacturing shortage

Why Are RAM Prices 2026 Skyrocketing?

The main culprit isn’t a factory fire or a shipping crisis—it is Artificial Intelligence. To run the massive AI models that companies like OpenAI and Google use, data centers need a specific type of super-fast memory called HBM (High Bandwidth Memory).

This has created a “supply crunch” for the standard RAM used in home computers:

1. Limited Resources: There are only so many silicon wafers available to manufacture chips.

2. Profit Shifting: Manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix are shifting their production lines to focus on high-profit AI memory.

3. Consumer Scarcity: As verified by reports from Tom’s Hardware, this leaves less capacity for standard DDR5 and DDR4 memory, causing prices to spike.

Alt Text: RAM prices 2026—installing new DDR5 memory module

It’s Not Just DDR5—Older Tech is Hit Too

You might think you are safe if you stick with an older laptop, but that isn’t the case. Because the focus has shifted so heavily to next-gen AI tech, “legacy” memory (DDR4) is being manufactured in lower volumes.

This has led to a strange market situation where older technology is not getting cheaper; it is actually holding its price or increasing. RAM prices 2026 are affecting the entire spectrum of computing, from high-end gaming rigs to budget office workstations.

SSDs Are Next

It gets a little worse before it gets better. The same supply chain pressure is hitting NAND flash—the storage chips used in SSDs. Production cuts designed to boost profitability mean that the 1TB or 2TB SSD you had your eye on is likely to cost more next month than it does today.

Alt Text: RAM prices 2026 chart showing cost increase over time

How to Beat the Price Hikes

We don’t share this news to scare you, but to help you time your purchases. Here is how you can navigate the current market:

• Buy Refurbished: When you buy a refurbished laptop or desktop from AC Computer Warehouse, the RAM inside it was manufactured before this price spike. We aren’t paying 2026 inflated market rates for those components, so neither are you.

• Upgrade Immediately: If you are sitting on 16GB of RAM, moving to 32GB is a smart move right now. We currently have stock at pre-hike prices, but once that stock is replenished, we will have to adjust our pricing to match the global market.

The Bottom Line

The “AI Boom” is great for technology, but right now, it is tough on PC builders. By understanding the causes behind RAM prices 2026, you can spot a good deal when you see one.

Need a memory upgrade before the prices peak? Pop down to the shop in Stockport or check out our Laptops online to grab a deal while our current stock lasts.

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