RAM spike wrecks builds
A mid‑March snapshot shows the memory squeeze in real numbers — one 16GB kit that was €265 on July 2, 2025 is listed at €1,064 today, a fourfold jump that’s pricing out entry buyers (x.com). GPUs and SSDs aren’t immune: users report NVIDIA 3090s now bidding above $1,400, and analysts warn mainstream PC sales could fall ~5% in 2026 as spiralling memory costs bite ( ).
Major suppliers shifted capacity toward HBM and AI-grade memory while tightening output for commodity DRAM and NAND, a structural change TrendForce says is driving 2026 price increases. (trendforce.com) TrendForce’s March spot-price update reported that DRAM spot momentum has been constrained this quarter and named DDR4 the weakest segment, even as NAND spot prices approach a bottom ahead of new contract negotiations. (trendforce.com) Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix have boosted capital plans and locked in large customer commitments; Samsung forecast roughly $73 billion in spending and SK Group leadership warned shortages could extend toward 2030. (cnbc.com) IDC’s updated outlook projects the PC market to expand in value to about $274 billion in 2026 even as component-driven price rises reshape unit demand and tablet value is expected near $66.8 billion. (tomshardware.com) Counterpoint’s modeling puts global PC shipments down roughly 5% in 2026 to about 262 million units, specifically attributing the decline to memory-driven price pressure on entry-level systems. (msn.com) Manufacturers have reportedly sold out DRAM, NAND and HBM capacity into 2026 and signed preliminary supply pacts with large AI customers, a dynamic analysts say is tightening consumer-market availability. (techspot.com) Independent price trackers and market surveys show recent sharp increases in GPU pricing—analysts estimate roughly a 15% global uptick over recent months—and older, high-end cards remain well above pre-crisis lows. (techradar.com) Multiple firms including TrendForce and NAND Research warn relief won’t arrive until mainstream DRAM capacity is materially expanded, a change most forecasts do not expect before late 2027. (trendforce.com)
