Key Points:
- Prices for 64GB DDR5 RAM kits have soared past the $1,000 mark.
- The same amount of RAM cost under $250 just six months ago.
- The booming AI industry is consuming a massive share of memory chips.
- DRAM production has failed to keep pace with the spike in demand.
Building a new computer just got a lot more expensive. What used to be a simple purchase has turned into a major financial decision. According to the popular website PCPartPicker, a standard 64GB kit of DDR5 RAM now costs more than $1,000.
This price is shocking when you look at how much things have changed in a short time. Just six months ago, in August 2025, that same amount of memory would have set you back less than $250. Even a month ago, the average price was in the uncomfortable but manageable range of $600 to $700. In just a few weeks, the cost has shot up, turning a steady climb into a nearly vertical spike.
The price graphs on PCPartPicker tell the story visually. Years of stable, flat pricing are now squeezed into a tiny band just to make room for the massive recent jump. It’s a clear sign that the market is in a crisis.
The most obvious culprit for this mess is the artificial intelligence industry. AI data centers need huge amounts of memory to run, and they are buying up the global supply. However, that’s not the only problem.
DRAM production has not kept up with this surge in demand. Factories are phasing out older memory types and steering their new, high-end chips toward corporate customers who pay the best prices. This leaves regular PC builders and gamers fighting over the scraps whenever the supply gets tight.
The situation has become so extreme that people are now stealing RAM sticks. Reports indicate thefts from display PCs in stores, warehouses, and even office buildings. This would have been unthinkable when the price was just a fraction of what it is today.
For anyone hoping to build or upgrade a PC, the message is clear. While some types of memory are rising more slowly than others, prices will likely stay high for a long time. It will be a while before things stabilize and even longer before they feel “normal” again.
