Get ready for a rough ride, PC gamers! The year 2026 is shaping up to be a challenging one for those of us who love gaming on our personal computers. The rise of AI is about to hit us where it hurts: in our wallets.
It's been a year since AMD and Nvidia released their flagship graphics cards, and while we might have expected prices to stabilize by now, the situation is far from ideal. Graphics cards are more affordable, but other components are driving up costs, making it tough to build a budget-friendly gaming PC.
And it's not just a temporary blip. Multiple manufacturers have warned that prebuilt PCs, usually the more economical option, are about to get even pricier. So, if you don't already have a decent gaming setup, getting one might soon become a luxury.
The Elephant in the Room: RAM
Remember when upgrading your RAM was an easy and affordable way to boost your gaming PC's performance? Well, those days are gone. Back in November, RAM prices started skyrocketing due to the massive demand from AI data centers. These AI models are incredibly memory-intensive, and the datacenters popping up everywhere need more and more RAM.
The memory manufacturers, enticed by the deep pockets of these AI companies, have shifted their focus. Micron, for example, has even shut down Crucial, its subsidiary known for producing some of the best budget RAM.
As a result, a simple 32GB kit of DDR5 RAM that used to cost around $90 in October 2025 now sets you back at least $360. That's a staggering fourfold increase, and it's not showing any signs of slowing down.
Anshel Sag, Principal Analyst at Moor Insight and Strategy, predicts this memory shortage could extend well into 2027 or even 2028. He suggests that, unlike previous cyclical memory crunches, this time we might be facing a structural change in how memory is consumed due to AI.
This memory shortage is already affecting other PC components. SSDs, for instance, are following a similar price trajectory. The 1TB Silicon Power UD90, once a budget-friendly SSD, has jumped from $60 to $144 in just a few months.
While we could try to accept these price hikes as a weekly occurrence, RAM and storage are fundamental to any piece of technology, gaming or otherwise. So, expect other components to follow suit.
Price Increases on the Horizon
Prebuilt gaming PCs might not be affordable right now, but they've somehow managed to avoid the worst of the price increases so far. You can still get a decent setup with a 5070 and an RTX 5070 for around $1679, which is about $100 cheaper than building it yourself.
However, manufacturers at CES last week warned that prebuilt systems are about to get more expensive. These companies typically buy components in bulk, so once they need to restock on now-expensive memory, they'll likely pass on the increased costs to consumers. Anshel Sag agrees, predicting that smartphones and PCs will be hit the hardest, but even upcoming consoles might not escape unscathed.
It's not just complete systems that are feeling the pinch. Rumors suggest that Nvidia is planning to increase the prices of its Blackwell graphics cards, especially the RTX 5090, due to the significant amount of GDDR7 memory it uses. Nvidia's flagship card, with its 32GB of memory, could see its price jump to a whopping $5,000, as suggested by Newsis via TechPowerUp.
And we're almost there. At the time of writing, the cheapest RTX 5090 I could find was $4,111 on Newegg, and that's from a seller with less-than-perfect reviews. Other listings put the price at around $4,600, with some already reaching the $5,000 mark that leakers warned about a few weeks ago.
Fortunately, these massive price increases don't seem to have hit more mainstream graphics cards yet. The RTX 5070 is still available for around $570-$600, only slightly higher than its $549 MSRP. Team Red's Radeon RX 9070 is faring slightly worse at $600, but it's still within reach of its $549 starting price.
The Steam Machine: A Silver Lining?
Valve's Steam Machine, announced last November, was supposed to launch in January or February. But as that launch window approaches, it's looking increasingly likely that it will be more expensive than many had hoped.
When the Steam Machine was first announced, I assumed it would be around $800, given its moderate power. But with memory prices as they are, I wouldn't be surprised if it creeps towards four digits. A recent early store listing by a Czech retailer, spotted on Reddit, priced the Steam Machine at around $950.
While I was initially skeptical, a price increase to $950 in response to the memory shortage would make sense. Only time will tell if these leaked prices are accurate, but I'm not holding my breath for a more affordable option.
When Will This End?
RAM price hikes are nothing new, but this time feels different. AI data centers are gobbling up memory, and pretty much every device is using more of it. As Anshel Sag points out, just look at how much DRAM is in phones today compared to a few years ago. The same goes for laptops, gaming handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X, and even the 16GB minimum threshold for CoPilot+.
The only way out of this RAM shortage in the short term is for memory manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix to ramp up production and get more DIMMs onto store shelves. But with AI companies buying up memory at these increased prices, it's not looking likely.
So, PC gamers, brace yourselves. 2026 might not be the best year for our hobby, but hopefully, we'll weather this storm and come out the other side.
