The Memory Crisis Drives Up Prices: Micro Center Sells 128GB DDR5 RAM for More Than an RTX 5090 and 8TB SSD for Nearly $3,000

Companies are continuously investing billions in AI, which necessitates hardware for training and inferencing AI models. While NVIDIA GPUs or AI accelerator chips are essential, they are not the sole requirement. The need for substantial memory capacity to train larger LLM models is paramount. This includes GPUs/accelerators with ample VRAM, as well as abundant RAM and large-capacity SSDs/HDDs to support these operations. Due to the high demand, RAM prices have skyrocketed. If you intend to purchase 128GB of RAM in the US from retailers like Micro Center, be prepared to spend over $4,000.

The elevated cost of RAM has significantly dampened interest in computers, leading analysts to forecast a substantial decline in shipments throughout 2026. This year's shipment drops are expected to be at least double-digit and will primarily impact sales of lower-cost computers. The budget segment will suffer the most, as higher prices will make it challenging to purchase computers for under $500.

Micro Center is Selling 128GB DDR5 RAM for a Staggering $4,199, and It's Not Selling

Just a few months ago, 32GB of DDR5 RAM in a high-end PC was considered relatively inexpensive. Now, prices have surged from 100-400 euros or even more. One might assume that 128GB of RAM would cost around 1,600 or perhaps 2,000 euros at most, but at a popular American retail chain, you're looking at double that price. Prices have continued to climb, with Micro Center selling 128GB of CORSAIR Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM at 6,400 MHz for $4,199. This could be attributed to the widely discussed shortage, yet... store shelves are full.

The image shows dozens upon dozens of packages of DDR5 RAM modules, and consumers are not showing interest. Unlike components like GPUs, RAM itself does not provide the significant FPS and graphical improvements offered by a graphics card or, to a lesser extent, a CPU. Having 16GB of RAM is sufficient for playing most video games well and using almost all programs.

2TB Samsung 9100 PRO SSDs Cost $680, and 8TB Models are $2,720

Given the RAM requirements, 128GB is an extraordinary amount, and only a select few will need such capacity for professional use, whether for rendering, handling millions of polygons in Zbrush, video editing with numerous plugins and high resolution, or AI applications. Among the numerous products available, we find not only RAM but also SSDs. It's important to remember that these have also been affected by price hikes and shortages, again presenting excessive pricing.

The 2TB Samsung 9100 PRO SSD is priced at $679.99, though given the available stock, few people will be willing to pay that. If, for any reason, you require more capacity, the 8TB Samsung 9100 Pro costs $2,719.99. Any American planning to buy RAM or SSDs for resale at a higher price will likely reconsider after seeing these costs and will instead wait for prices to drop significantly, while retailers continue to accumulate stock.