The PC gaming landscape just hit a bizarre milestone. A PlayStation 5 console now costs less than 64GB of DDR5 memory. That’s right – you can buy an entire gaming system with a custom AMD processor, GPU, SSD, and controller for less money than it takes to purchase two sticks of RAM. The culprit behind this absurd price inversion is the same force disrupting tech markets everywhere: artificial intelligence.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
A quick comparison of current retail prices shows just how ridiculous the situation has become. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs $399.99, while the disc version runs $449.99. Meanwhile, a 64GB DDR5 kit from brands like Kingston, TeamGroup, or Crucial ranges from $525 to $689 depending on speed and features. Some kits have crossed the $700 threshold, officially costing more than a PlayStation 5 Pro at $649.
The price jump happened shockingly fast. Community reports show people buying 32GB DDR5 kits for $132 in May 2024, only to see those same kits priced at $505 by November. That’s a 283% increase in six months. One Corsair employee shared a story about a customer who paid $279 for a RAM kit in November 2024, only to see that exact kit selling for $919 one year later. These aren’t gradual market adjustments – this is a full-blown crisis for PC builders.
Why AI Is Eating All The Memory
The root cause is simple: AI data centers are consuming massive quantities of memory. Companies deploying GPUs like NVIDIA’s H100 and H200 for machine learning workloads need enormous amounts of high-bandwidth memory. These enterprise customers pay premium prices, which means memory manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are prioritizing production of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and specialized DRAM over consumer-grade DDR5.
When wafer production capacity is limited, manufacturers shift to whatever makes them the most profit. Consumer DDR5 modules yield lower margins compared to HBM3E and LPDDR5X used in AI accelerators and data centers. So the factories that used to produce memory for gamers are now churning out chips for tech companies training large language models and computer vision systems. The result is a supply crunch that has sent prices through the roof.
According to TrendForce, DRAM spot prices surged nearly 10% in a single week during October 2025. Retail data from Europe and Asia shows DDR5 kits from major brands like Corsair, G.Skill, and Kingston rising by 30-50% in certain regions. In some markets, the price per gigabyte has nearly doubled compared to mid-2024 levels. This isn’t a temporary spike – analysts expect the upward trend to continue into early 2026.
What This Means for PC Builders
For anyone planning a new PC build, the math has gotten brutal. A memory kit that cost $80-90 earlier in the year now runs $120-130 at minimum, with premium kits hitting $150-200 for 32GB. If you want the 64GB that’s becoming standard for modern gaming PCs, you’re looking at $500-700 just for RAM. That single component can represent 30-40% of your total build budget for a mid-range system.
The situation gets even worse for enthusiasts who want 128GB. Two 64GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 kits will cost you $1,485 on current retail pricing. That’s more than many complete gaming PCs cost just two years ago. Even modest 32GB configurations are expensive enough that budget builders are seriously reconsidering whether to build a PC at all or just buy a console.
Console Gaming Looking Smart Right Now
The PS5’s value proposition has never looked better. For $399-$649 depending on the model, you get a complete gaming system that will play AAA titles for the next several years without worrying about component shortages or price volatility. No need to research motherboard compatibility, worry about DDR5 speeds, or check if your CPU supports the latest memory specifications. You just plug it in and play.
This price comparison highlights one of the biggest advantages of console gaming – predictable costs. While PC component prices fluctuate based on supply chains, crypto mining demand, AI infrastructure buildouts, and global semiconductor shortages, console prices remain relatively stable. Sony and Microsoft lock in their hardware costs years in advance and can eat temporary losses to maintain market share. Individual PC builders don’t have that luxury.
When Will Prices Come Down
The uncomfortable truth is that relief might be far away. Industry analysts predict DRAM prices could rise 10-20% quarter-over-quarter through early 2026. The driving forces behind the shortage – AI infrastructure expansion and manufacturers prioritizing high-margin products – aren’t going away anytime soon. If anything, demand for AI compute capacity is accelerating as more companies deploy machine learning systems.
There is a potential silver lining. As DDR5 adoption increases with new Intel 700-series and AMD AM5 platforms, economies of scale could eventually stabilize prices. But that stabilization won’t happen until supply catches up with demand, and right now supply is being diverted to enterprise customers willing to pay top dollar. PC builders hoping for a return to 2024 pricing might be waiting until 2027 or beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wait to build a PC until DDR5 prices drop?
If you’re not in a hurry, waiting might save you hundreds of dollars. However, analysts don’t expect significant price relief until late 2026 at the earliest. If you need a system now, consider buying a console or looking at DDR4-compatible platforms that are still cheaper.
Are DDR4 prices affected by the same shortage?
Yes, DDR4 prices have also increased, though not as dramatically as DDR5. Earlier in 2025, DDR4 experienced its own price surge. The gap between DDR4 and DDR5 pricing has largely disappeared, with both now costing roughly the same per gigabyte.
Can I still build a gaming PC for less than a PS5?
It’s become extremely difficult. Even if you skimp on the GPU and other components, RAM costs alone eat up a huge chunk of a $400-500 budget. You’d need to hunt for used parts or settle for older DDR4 platforms to match PS5 pricing.
Why don’t memory manufacturers just make more consumer RAM?
Memory fabrication requires expensive equipment and long lead times. Manufacturers are making rational business decisions to produce whatever generates the highest profit margins, which right now is enterprise memory for AI applications, not consumer DDR5.
Will this affect laptop prices too?
Yes, laptops using DDR5 memory are seeing price increases as well. However, laptop manufacturers often have long-term supply contracts that cushion them from spot market volatility. The impact is less severe than what DIY PC builders face buying components at retail.
Are other PC components getting more expensive?
RAM is seeing the most dramatic increases, but GPUs and SSDs have also experienced price fluctuations due to similar supply chain issues. AI accelerator demand has indirectly affected GPU pricing as well, though not to the same extreme as memory.
Could cryptocurrency mining cause another price spike?
While crypto has historically driven GPU shortages, the current memory crisis is driven by AI infrastructure, which represents more sustained, long-term demand compared to the boom-bust cycles of cryptocurrency mining.
Conclusion
The fact that a PS5 costs less than 64GB of RAM represents a fundamental shift in the PC gaming landscape. The AI revolution is creating ripple effects across the entire tech industry, and PC enthusiasts are paying the price – literally. For budget-conscious gamers, consoles have never looked more appealing. For those committed to PC gaming, the current market demands patience, flexibility, and a willingness to pay premiums that would have seemed absurd just 18 months ago. Whether you choose to wait out the shortage or bite the bullet and pay current prices, one thing is clear: the golden age of cheap PC components is behind us, at least for now.