If you’ve shopped for a laptop, a desktop or a stick of RAM lately, you’ve probably noticed that memory costs a lot more than it did a year or two ago. A 32GB kit that was an easy upgrade in 2024 can now cost as much as a mid-range graphics card, and laptop makers have quietly raised prices on models with more RAM. Here’s what’s actually going on, why it’s happening, and what it means if you’re buying a computer right now.
The short answer: AI data centers are buying the memory
Almost all of the world’s DRAM, the type of memory used for RAM in PCs, phones and servers, is made by three companies: Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Together they produce well over 90% of it. That means when those three companies decide where to send their factory output, the whole market feels it.
Over the last two years, the biggest buyers of memory have become AI data centers. The chips that train and run AI models need huge amounts of a special type of memory called HBM (high-bandwidth memory), stacked right next to the processor. HBM sells for far more than ordinary RAM, so memory makers have been moving factory capacity toward it.
The catch is that HBM is much less efficient to make. Building the same amount of memory as HBM uses roughly three times as much wafer capacity as building it as regular DDR5. Every factory line that switches over to HBM produces a lot less memory in total, and what’s left for regular PCs gets smaller.
Servers want regular RAM too
It isn’t only HBM. The servers that surround AI chips also need large amounts of standard server memory, and cloud companies have been building data centers as fast as they can. They sign long contracts and pay whatever it takes to keep those projects on schedule. Consumer RAM, by comparison, is a smaller and lower-margin business, so it gets whatever capacity is left over.
A major consumer brand walked away
In December 2025, Micron announced it was winding down Crucial, its consumer memory and SSD brand, to focus on data center customers. Crucial was one of the most common names in RAM upgrades for decades. With it gone, there are fewer suppliers selling memory directly to regular buyers, and more of the market depends on the remaining manufacturers and the brands that buy chips from them.
New factories take years
Memory makers are building new factories, but a new fab takes years to plan, build and fill with equipment. Several industry leaders have said publicly that supply will stay tight into 2027, and some expect it to last into 2028. Nobody can promise a date, but this isn’t a shortage that goes away in a few months.
What it means for laptop and PC prices
RAM is one of the parts that has the biggest effect on a computer’s price right now. You’ll see it in a few ways:
- Higher prices on models with more RAM. The jump from 16GB to 32GB costs noticeably more than it used to.
- Fewer cheap high-RAM laptops. Some models that used to come with 32GB now ship with 16GB at the same price.
- Soldered RAM matters more. Many thin laptops have RAM soldered to the board, so you can’t add more later. Whatever you buy is what you’ll have for the life of the laptop.
- Desktop upgrades cost more. Building or upgrading a PC costs more, since RAM is now a much bigger part of the budget.
How to buy smart during the shortage
Buy the RAM you need now. If a laptop has soldered memory, don’t count on upgrading it later. For most people, 16GB is the right amount in 2026. Gamers, video editors, programmers running virtual machines and heavy multitaskers should aim for 32GB. Our RAM guide explains how much you need for different uses.
Look for upgradeable laptops. Many gaming laptops and business laptops still use regular SO-DIMM slots. If you can’t afford 32GB today, a laptop with 16GB in slots lets you add more later when prices come down.
Don’t skip sales. Because memory costs keep shifting, holiday and back-to-school sales can make a bigger difference than usual. Our Deals page tracks current prices across stores.
Consider refurbished. Refurbished laptops were built before the shortage hit, so you can often get more RAM for the money. Just make sure the seller offers a real warranty.
Don’t panic-buy. If your current computer works fine, there’s no reason to rush. If you need a new one, buy what fits your needs and budget today instead of waiting for a recovery that could take a couple of years.
The bottom line
RAM is expensive because the AI boom has turned memory into one of the most in-demand products in tech, and the few companies that make it are sending most of their output to data centers. Until new factories come online, expect memory to stay pricier than it was a couple of years ago. The best move is to buy the right amount the first time, pick upgradeable machines when you can, and watch for sales.
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