Soaring RAM Prices Reignite PC Market Turmoil

Global RAM shortages fueled by AI demand are driving PC prices up and creating a new wave of “ramtech” investing. Here’s why it’s happening.

The global PC market is entering a volatile new phase as memory prices skyrocket, sending shockwaves through the industry and even sparking an unexpected investment craze dubbed “ramtech” in South Korea. With AI companies soaking up most of the world’s memory chip supply, consumers and manufacturers are struggling to keep up with costs that have surged by 400–500% in just a few months.

The AI Boom That’s Squeezing Consumers

The AI revolution isn’t just reshaping tech—it’s reshaping the entire semiconductor market. Leading chipmakers Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology have ramped up production of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in powerful AI data centers.

That shift has gutted supply for consumer-grade components like DDR5 RAM. In early 2026:

Samsung DDR5-5600 16GB modules climbed from ₩69,000 to over ₩400,000, a nearly sixfold jump.
Custom PC builds rose from ₩1.27 million to ₩2 million on average.
Gaming PCs now exceed ₩3 million, up almost 50% since September 2025.

According to TrendForce, DRAM contract prices are expected to rise another 55–60% in Q1 2026, building on massive price hikes in late 2025.

“It really is the craziest time ever,” says Avril Wu, senior vice president at TrendForce.

‘Ramtech’ — When Memory Becomes an Investment

With prices soaring, consumers in South Korea have begun treating RAM like a speculative asset. Online marketplaces are flooded with listings for high-end memory modules, while second-hand RAM sales are brisk.

One seller told Chosun Daily he received six calls within minutes after listing two 16GB sticks.

RAM transactions have jumped 33% month-over-month, according to Danawa, a leading Korean component tracker.
The term “ramtech”—a blend of RAM and fintech—encapsulates this growing mini-investment phenomenon.

However, experts warn that history could repeat itself. The 2017–2018 memory bubble saw prices triple before collapsing within a year as oversupply flooded the market.

The Ripple Effect: PCs and Phones Get Pricier

The consequences go beyond gaming PCs. Analysts forecast that as memory prices remain high, the entire electronics ecosystem could face contraction in 2026:

IDC projects global PC sales could fall 4.9%, with the worst case dipping 8.9%.
Counterpoint Research expects smartphone shipments to shrink up to 5.2%.
Manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo warn of 15–20% higher prices or lower memory configurations.

Low-end smartphones, which had moved to 6GB or 8GB of RAM, may revert to 4GB models just to control costs.

“If it uses memory or storage, you can expect price increases,” notes Steve Mason of CyberPowerPC, adding that some parts now cost five times more than just two months ago.

What Consumers Can Do

If you’re planning to buy or build a PC in 2026, timing is everything. Here are a few strategic tips:

Delay upgrades if possible. Prices may stabilize later this year as supply chains adapt.
Buy only what you need. Don’t overpay for premium speeds unless necessary.
Watch the used market. Second-hand modules could offer short-term savings.
Follow memory price trackers. Sites like Danawa or PCPartPicker can help monitor real-time trends.

The Bottom Line

The AI gold rush has flipped the global memory market upside down—boosting semiconductor profits but squeezing everyday consumers. Whether “ramtech” remains a quirky investment fad or a cautionary tale will depend on how quickly supply catches up with AI’s insatiable demand.