Why SSD and RAM Prices Are Rising – and Whether You Should Buy Now
If you’ve been keeping an eye on PC hardware prices recently, you’ve probably noticed that SSDs and RAM have quietly become more expensive. What used to be an upgrade-friendly market with regular discounts has shifted into one where prices can jump from one month to the next.
According to data from TrendForce, average spot prices for DRAM chips rose by 7.1% in early November 2025, while 512Gb TLC NAND wafers surged by 17.1% over the same period (TrendForce report). These moves reflect a wider shift driven by limited wafer supply, strong AI-server demand, and manufacturers prioritising high-margin enterprise components over consumer products.
Tom’s Hardware likewise noted that both NAND and DRAM contract prices climbed by roughly 15–20% in Q4 2025, bucking the usual seasonal pattern where memory costs tend to stabilise towards the end of the year (Tom’s Hardware). This matches manufacturer comments that much of 2026 production is already pre-sold to major data-centre clients, adding further upward pressure on retail prices into next year.
This isn’t limited to server hardware. Consumer SSDs and DDR5 kits are moving in the same direction, as memory makers shift capacity towards higher-margin AI and enterprise products. For everyday PC builders and professionals upgrading their machines, it means timing matters more than ever.
Below, we’ll break down why SSD and RAM prices are rising, what’s happening in the supply chain, and whether it’s still a good time to buy before the next wave of increases.
What’s driving the SSD and RAM price surge?
The price rises you’re seeing across SSDs and RAM come from several structural shifts in the memory market. One of the biggest is tighter supply. Over the past year, major memory manufacturers have reduced output of mainstream DRAM and NAND to manage inventory and focus on more profitable segments. As older stock is cleared, contract prices for new wafers naturally rise, and that cost gets passed on to consumer products.
Another factor is the rapid expansion of AI and data-centre deployments. Large cloud providers are locking in long-term supply of server-grade DRAM, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and enterprise SSDs, all of which take priority in current production schedules. With a significant share of wafer capacity committed to these high-demand applications, fewer chips are available for consumer PCs, leading to price adjustments across retail channels.
Manufacturers are also reshaping their product strategies. Output is increasingly directed towards DDR5, HBM, and enterprise NAND solutions, while lower-margin items such as DDR4 or entry-level PCIe SSDs receive less allocation. This tightens the supply of consumer-grade memory and keeps baseline pricing higher, regardless of seasonal sales cycles.
How rising prices affect everyday buyers
For most people planning a PC upgrade, the recent shift in memory pricing changes how you assess both timing and component choice. The most noticeable impact is on mid-range and higher-capacity parts. Kits such as 32GB DDR5 or 1–2TB PCIe SSDs now carry higher baseline prices than earlier in the year, so you may need to adjust your budget if you’re building or refreshing a system.
You can also see it in availability. As more wafer capacity is directed towards server-grade components, consumer ranges can have slower restocking cycles. Popular options—especially faster DDR5 kits or high-end PCIe 4.0/5.0 SSDs—may fluctuate in price more often, and longer gaps between promotions are becoming common. Discounts haven’t disappeared, but the ‘floor price’ seen in previous years is less likely to return in the short term.
Another practical consequence is that waiting for seasonal deals is less rewarding. Even during big sales events, the starting point is higher, so the final price can still end up above last year’s lows. For professionals who need consistent performance—such as content creators, remote workers, or anyone running heavier applications—upgrade plans are better driven by workload needs than by waiting for a perfect discount that may not appear.
Should you buy an SSD or RAM now?
Whether you should buy memory or storage now depends on how soon you need the upgrade and how much performance is affecting your day-to-day work. If your current system is already close to its limits—browser tabs crashing, slow project loads, or not enough space for applications—waiting may not deliver meaningful savings. With contract prices trending upwards and manufacturers prioritising enterprise products, near-term retail prices are unlikely to return to early-2025 levels.
If your upgrade is optional or part of longer-term planning, you can still keep an eye on price cycles, but it helps to reset expectations. End-of-year sales or regional shopping events may offer temporary relief, yet the discounts typically apply to a higher starting point. For larger-capacity SSDs or more advanced DDR5 kits, price swings also tend to be narrower, so a modest dip may be the best you’ll see for a while.
A practical approach is to match your buying decision to the stability of your workload. Tasks such as video editing, AI inference, virtualisation, or working with large datasets benefit noticeably from faster memory and storage. In these cases, buying sooner can prevent workflow disruptions and reduce the risk of further increases. For lighter everyday use, a wait-and-watch approach can still work—as long as you check prices periodically and don’t rely on last year’s expectations.
How to plan your next PC upgrade
Planning your next upgrade is easier once you understand how current pricing patterns shape the choices available to you. The first step is to focus on what your workload actually needs—capacity, speed, or both. This helps you avoid overspending on specifications that offer little benefit in day-to-day use. From there, it’s useful to track a small shortlist of products you might buy so you can recognise a reasonable price when it appears, even if it’s not as low as in past years.
Timing also depends on how predictable your work is. If you rely on large projects, virtual machines, or resource-heavy creative tools, upgrading earlier reduces the chance of running into performance limits during busy periods. For tasks with steadier requirements, watching price trends for a few weeks before buying can still be effective, as long as you adjust your expectations to the current pricing environment.
Keeping an eye on reliable market updates—especially from industry analysts who follow DRAM and NAND supply—helps you make informed decisions. These reports often signal when manufacturers shift production or when enterprise demand starts affecting retail availability. With these considerations in mind, you can approach your next upgrade with clearer priorities and a better sense of when the right moment comes.
Recommended option if you’re unsure about SSD or RAM pricing
If you’d prefer to wait for better SSD or RAM deals but still want to start a new set-up, choosing a barebones mini PC (a 0+0 configuration) is a practical alternative. This gives you a fully assembled system without pre-installed memory or storage, leaving you free to add your own components when prices align with your budget. It also avoids the mark-up that sometimes appears on pre-configured models during supply-tight periods.
ACEMAGIC offers several 0+0 mini PC options with solid performance, compact size, and support for common DDR4/DDR5 and M.2 SSD standards. This approach works well if you want the flexibility to pick your preferred memory and storage later, especially while the market is shifting.
FAQ
Why is the price of RAM going up?
The price of RAM is increasing because AI data centres are purchasing large volumes of high-bandwidth memory, reducing the availability of DRAM for consumer PCs. Manufacturers are prioritising HBM and server-grade modules, which shifts production away from mainstream DDR4 and DDR5. As a result, the supply of consumer memory tightens, and the baseline cost of RAM rises across the market.
Why aren’t SSD prices going down?
SSD prices are rising due to strong demand for NAND flash from AI infrastructure and cloud providers, which has led to tighter supply. Memory producers are allocating more wafer capacity to enterprise customers, leaving less for consumer-grade SSDs. With production already committed for upcoming cycles, retail SSD pricing is expected to remain higher than earlier in the year.
Is a 1TB SSD overkill?
For most users, a 1TB SSD is not overkill. It offers enough room for applications, photos, project files, and modern games without needing frequent clean-up. Creative workloads and local backups also benefit from the extra space, making 1TB a practical baseline rather than excess. It may feel unnecessary only if your usage is very light and you rely heavily on cloud storage.
Will SSD and RAM prices continue to rise?
SSD and RAM prices are likely to stay elevated in the near term due to ongoing demand from AI data centres and limited supply of NAND and DRAM. Production schedules are heavily committed to enterprise components, which restricts output for consumer products. While short promotions may still appear, most forecasts suggest that the general pricing trend will remain firm through upcoming production cycles.
Are DDR4 and DDR5 affected in the same way by the price surge?
DDR4 and DDR5 are not affected equally. DDR4 has seen more volatile price movements because manufacturers have reduced production in favour of newer standards. DDR5 pricing is more stable, although advanced kits still carry higher absolute costs. Overall, DDR4 scarcity has contributed to situations where it becomes more expensive per gigabyte than some DDR5 options.
Should I upgrade my RAM or SSD now, or wait?
Your decision depends on how soon you need better performance. If your system is running low on memory or storage, upgrading now avoids slow-downs while the market remains uncertain. If your workload is flexible, it’s reasonable to monitor short-term promotions, though baseline prices may stay higher for a while. Another practical option is choosing a barebones mini PC (0+0) so you can add your own RAM or SSD later when pricing aligns with your budget.
Data source:
1. TrendForce, “[Insights] Memory Spot Price Update: DRAM Chip Spot Prices Surpass Modules, Signaling Imminent Surge”, 2025-11-12.
2. Tom’s Hardware, “NAND and DRAM prices surge by up to 20% — contract price increases driven by AI demands and tight supply”, 2025-09-15.
