32GB DDR5 6000 RAM now starts at $449.97
The higher price leaves builders with fewer cheap memory options and keeps pressure on DIY PC budgets.
DDR5 6000 memory has climbed to a new benchmark price of $449.97 for a 32GB kit, underscoring how the AI-driven DRAM shortage is still pushing up DIY PC costs. Tom’s Hardware says that same class of RAM had already reached $400 in August, and that prices across RAM have risen by more than 500% since last year. The outlet also notes that cheaper alternatives exist, such as a 32GB DDR5 4800 Corsair kit at $399, but that older kit once sold for $80. The broader market impact is showing up in PC demand too, with a separate report cited by Tom’s Hardware saying 3Q26 PC shipments fell 20% and the top three vendors shipped 11.6 million fewer units than a year earlier. Industry watchers quoted by the site warn the memory shortage could linger into next year or even for a decade.
Why it matters
For people assembling or upgrading PCs, memory is no longer a small line item. Tom’s Hardware says DDR5 6000 has moved from $400 in August to $449.97 now, while a slower 32GB kit is still $399, which shows how thin the low-cost end has become. That sits alongside a wider market squeeze that has already pushed RAM prices up by more than 500% and coincides with weaker PC shipments, so buyers may keep facing higher system costs for longer.
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Sources
- Tom's Hardware