RAM and SSD Prices Are Skyrocketing: Why Your Suivant PC Will Cost You Much More in 2026

If you’ve checked the price of a computer recently, you might have gotten a shock. You are not alone. Welcome to the memory crisis of 2026.

A Historic Price Hike

If you’ve tried to buy a new laptop, upgrade your desktop PC, or simply glanced at the price of RAM sticks in recent weeks, a painful reality has set in: prices are exploding. And this is not just a simple seasonal fluctuation.

According to the latest analysis from the research firm TrendForce, contract prices for PC DRAM jumped by 105% to 110% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter.

To put this in perspective, a 32 GB DDR5 RAM kit that cost around €150 at the end of 2025 is now approaching €400, or even more depending on the retailer. French hardware site Le Comptoir du Hardware, citing data from ComputerBase, reports that some 32 GB DDR5 kits saw their prices soar by 344% between September 2025 and January 2026.

It’s not just RAM that’s affected. Consumer-grade SSDs (1 to 4 TB) have increased by more than 74% over the same period, and mechanical hard drives (HDDs) are not far behind with a 46% jump.

The Main Culprit? Artificial Intelligence

How can such a surge be explained? The culprit lies elsewhere: in the gigantic data centers that power generative AI.

Cloud giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have signed massive contracts with chip manufacturers to secure ultra-fast memory, specifically HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) .

The problem is that this HBM is manufactured on the same production lines as your standard DDR5 RAM. However, it is far more profitable for manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron.

The result: they are diverting their production towards this highly lucrative market, creating an artificial shortage in the consumer market.

TrendForce sums up the situation: « The persistent demand for AI and data centers is worsening the global supply-demand imbalance for memory, thereby strengthening the pricing power of suppliers. »

The DDR4 Trap: Why the Older Generation Is Also Soaring

Faced with exploding DDR5 prices, the idea of falling back on the older, supposedly cheaper DDR4 might seem tempting. Bad move.

Against all logic, DDR4 is increasing even faster.

On the « spot » market (i.e., cash transactions), DDR4 prices have jumped by 172% , compared to 76% for DDR5.

Why? Because buyers, panicked by the general shortage, are buying everything they can find, including stocks of the older generation. This is a genuine scarcity effect that spares no one.

Concrete Consequences: Shrinkflation and 8GB PCs

For consumers, the reality is a cold shower. PC manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer, and Asus have warned: computer prices are going up.

TechRadar predicts increases of 15 to 20% starting in the second half of 2026.

But more insidiously, we are witnessing a phenomenon of technological « shrinkflation. » To maintain attractive entry-level prices, manufacturers are reducing standard configurations.

Concretely, the €699 laptop that came with 16 GB of RAM last year might now only offer 8 GB this year, forcing you to pay more to get back to an acceptable level of performance.

This is a tough blow for students and professionals, especially since Windows 11 and the new « AI PCs » (Copilot+) actually require more memory.

How Long Will This Crisis Last?

The news is not good. Experts are pessimistic.

Micron, one of the three major global manufacturers, estimates that these tensions could last until 2028. Building new factories takes years, and the demand for AI shows no signs of slowing down.

Even Apple and Samsung, who have secured long-term contracts, might be forced to freeze RAM upgrades on their next flagship phones.

Survival Guide: What to Do Now?

Facing this perfect storm, inaction is not an option. Here are a few tips for individuals and professionals.

• For professionals, explore the refurbished market. You can find robust workstations, like ThinkPads or MacBooks, with savings of up to 30%.
• Assess your real need for DDR5. For pure office work, a well-chosen DDR4 platform can still work wonders without breaking the bank.
• Consider alternative solutions. If your usage is 100% web-based, a Chromebook can be an excellent way out. The OS is optimized for the cloud and requires few local resources.
• For individuals, if you have to buy, do it now or wait for spring promotional cycles. But don’t expect a return to normal for several months.