What the current memory crisis means for everyday PC buyers
The current memory crisis refers to a sharp, sustained DRAM and NAND flash price increase driven by AI server demand, which is diverting manufacturing capacity away from consumer-grade RAM and SSDs and forcing PC makers worldwide to raise notebook and desktop prices while shifting their lineups toward higher-margin, higher-end systems. Commodity DRAM and NAND flash prices set new records in May, showing how severe the memory shortage impact has become for the wider PC market. DRAMeXchange reports that the average price of PC-use DDR4 8Gb reached USD 20 (approx. RM92), up from USD 16 (approx. RM73) in April, the highest level since tracking began. NAND MLC 128Gb used in cards and USB drives hit USD 26.51 (approx. RM121), after 17 straight months of gains. These spikes do not stay in factories: they flow through to RAM sticks, SSDs, and ultimately the price tag on every new laptop and desktop.
From factory to checkout: how DRAM and NAND records push PC prices up
As DRAM and NAND costs soar, PC makers are paying more for every gigabyte of memory that goes into a system. Those component increases are now visible in a broad PC price hike. Analyst firm Context reports that average notebook prices are up 11.4 percent year-on-year and desktop prices are up 10.5 percent in early Q2, even though unit sales of laptops fell 3 percent and desktops 7 percent. In other words, buyers are paying more for fewer machines. The memory crunch is hitting both RAM and SSDs. DRAM shortages raise the cost of system memory, while NAND shortages cause an SSD price surge. TrendForce notes that second-quarter PC DRAM contract prices rose 40 to 50 percent from the previous quarter after a 100 to 115 percent jump in the first quarter. With memory now one of the most inflated parts of the bill of materials, manufacturers are passing much of the increase to consumers.
AI servers are swallowing memory capacity and starving consumer PCs
Behind the scenes, the same chips that make your laptop feel fast are also the fuel for AI servers. Team Group CEO Gerry Chen says that AI-related demand now takes about 40 to 50 percent of the entire memory market, covering both DRAM used as RAM and NAND flash used in SSDs. Much of the output planned for 2026 and 2027 already has buyers, mainly in AI data centers. At the manufacturing level, memory makers are prioritizing high-bandwidth and high-margin products for AI servers over commodity PC parts. That leaves less DRAM and NAND for mainstream notebooks and desktops, tightening supply even as PC vendors need to refresh product lines. The result is a feedback loop: AI projects lock in future capacity, retail memory becomes scarcer, and each DRAM price increase or SSD price surge feeds back into higher PC prices today, with little spare capacity to cool the market.
How long will RAM and SSD prices keep rising?
Industry signals point to years, not months, of tension. Chen expects the overall supply shortage in both DRAM and NAND to last until at least 2028, implying that RAM and SSD prices are likely to keep trending up rather than returning to past lows. TrendForce says commodity NAND prices have already climbed about 280 percent since the first quarter of last year, while some memory components have risen as much as 414 percent over 12 months. There are hints of short-term pauses. DRAMeXchange notes that June commodity DRAM prices are expected to remain similar to May levels after recent negotiations between DRAM suppliers and PC OEMs. But those plateaus sit on top of steep climbs. With AI build-outs continuing and capacity fully allocated at many fabs, most experts expect elevated DRAM price increase cycles and ongoing SSD price surge patterns to persist over the coming years rather than reverse quickly.
What buyers can do now amid the PC price hike
For consumers, the practical effect of the memory crunch is clear: a laptop cost increase or desktop upgrade now demands more budget for RAM and SSDs. With average notebook and desktop prices already up by double digits and memory makers expecting continued tightness, timing and configuration choices matter more than in past upgrade cycles. Short term, some PC vendors are reshaping portfolios toward higher-end models to protect margins, so lower-spec machines may see less aggressive pricing than in previous generations. Where possible, buyers can prioritize systems with enough RAM and storage for several years, since future standalone upgrades may cost more. Watching promotions closely also helps, as manufacturers occasionally use older, lower-cost inventory to soften the memory shortage impact on certain models. For users who do not need immediate upgrades, waiting through near-term contract cycles may offer only modest relief, but it could avoid buying at the very peak of current spikes.