The price of RAM has skyrocketed, but it’s not the only hardware affected.
RAM shortages have surfaced in recent months, mainly caused by the rise in demand for AI data centres.
AI chatbots rely on extensive server set-ups, and those need RAM to run effectively.
The problem is that RAM was already in high demand in the tech and gaming sector. Add in the AI industry as a new customer and RAM-producing companies are struggling to keep up.
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As such, the component has starkly risen in price - and don’t assume that doesn’t affect the everyday person. It’s not a good time to build a new PC.
As I said, other components are experiencing similar rises.
SSD, for example, is one adjacent case study. It’s also fairly in demand, albeit not quite as much as RAM yet has been subject to major price rises.
Reddit user Humble_Profile_3306 highlighted one key example that’s affecting PlayStation 5 gamers.
SSD and RAM work hand in hand. RAM essentially stores programming whilst SSD is the storage that you as a user can make use of with your files.
For PlayStation 5 gamers, if your console’s storage runs out because you have too many games installed, picking up an extra SSD can be a solid solution, and the WD - BLACK SN85OP 4TB Internal SSD Gen 4 x 4 with Heatsink for PS5 is a popular option.
It’s drastically risen in price though.
“Yikes at the price jump,” Humble_Profile_3306 said, posting two screenshots that see the price jump from $489.20 to $1,369.99 over the space of a month. Oof.
Many other users shared similar testimonies.
“At this point, just buy another PS5 if you need more storage,” replied That_Comfort2366.
“I bought an SN850X 4TB SSD for $312.99 in March 2025. It’s now listed at $1149.99. Crazyyy,” said Pankosmanko.
“Wow, I got an 8TB WD-BLACK SSD a couple months ago for ~$580. This is stupid,” declared KICKASSKC.
The Problem Isn’t Going to End Anytime Soon
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It’s definitely a worrying time. You may be sitting there thinking you can avoid add-ons like this but eventually, these price hikes will affect our favourite consoles when existing supplies run out.
I’ve made it quite clear I’m heavily against AI chatbots. Did you know a simple text exchange with something like ChatGPT requires 500ml of water in server cooling?
You think how much water that is wasted worldwide day after day for the millions of AI prompts made. It’s really sad.
The sector is still growing so it’s unlikely price hikes will quell anytime soon.
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony, Tech