RAM, And SSDs Reached Insane Prices

[glamphotographer]

Remember the pandemic when GPUs were overpriced because of Bitcoin miners? Fast forward to 2026.

32 GB RAM DDR5 is selling for $560.

Amazon.ca

2 TB NVME are also insane $340

https://www.amazon.ca/Crucial-Inter...8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

What's driving up these prices? SUPPLY AND DEMAND. Large corporations like Microsoft and X are buying them all up to build data centres and AI machines. All the chip manufacturers in Taiwan can't keep up with the demand until they ramp up manufacturing. Also, the Orange Turd down south with his tarrifs don't help either. Hopefully, by 2027, they will come down in price.

 

[Goodoer]

I’m currently milking my workstation…. Waiting to purchase a brand new machine ($4.5K-$5K budget)…. Scary times.

 

[glamphotographer]

I’m currently milking my workstation…. Waiting to purchase a brand new machine ($4.5K-$5K budget)…. Scary times.

Can't get a computer on a 2K budget anymore. 2026 is a bad year to do any upgrades.

 

[RustedWalleye]

I'm in the industry, its not going to see any relief until 2028. The backlog keeps growing...wait until Elon annouces his plans to rollout massive datacentres in space later this year.

 

[glamphotographer]

I'm in the industry, its not going to see any relief until 2028. The backlog keeps growing...wait until Elon annouces his plans to rollout massive datacentres in space later this year.

This is going to kill PC gamers.

 

[S1LENT5027]

Guys, if you are willing to buy, I do have Corsair 64GB RAM willing to sell in Ottawa. Let me know your offers and if required, I could come to Toronto to hand it over in person

 

[WoodPeckr]

IDK thinking about replacing my First Gen i7 Dell XPS purchased back in 2009 for $1,019.99 USD. It is dated but still runs great, better than new with SSDs and 16GB DDR3 Ram, being the only upgrades made.
Not a gamer and don't do video editing. Thinking of getting this for my needs. Price isn't bad, only 100 bucks more than what I paid for my current i7 purchased back in 2009:
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/des...rationid=e00d9436-78e3-4532-a365-85e9dd8fca72

Thoughts and comments?

 

[Intrinsic]

IDK thinking about replacing my First Gen i7 Dell XPS purchased back in 2009 for $1,019.99 USD. It is dated but still runs great, better than new with SSDs and 16GB DDR3 Ram, being the only upgrades made.
Not a gamer and don't do video editing. Thinking of getting this for my needs. Price isn't bad, only 100 bucks more than what I paid for my current i7 purchased back in 2009:
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/des...rationid=e00d9436-78e3-4532-a365-85e9dd8fca72

Thoughts and comments?

I thought you ran an older PC and Linux? Why a new PC? I say keep the money. lol

 

[WoodPeckr]

I thought you run an older PC and Linux? Why a new PC? I say keep the money. lol

Well my First Gen i7 Dell XPS purchased back in 2009 is considered very old now but still runs great. It runs Windows 10 and 3 other Linux OSs. All 4 OSs run fine. Thought it may be time to update since I have no idea how long it will last. Rather than just wait until it dies....lol

 

[glamphotographer]

Well my First Gen i7 Dell XPS purchased back in 2009 is considered very old now but still runs great. It runs Windows 10 and 3 other Linux OSs. All 4 OSs run fine. Thought it may be time to update since I have no idea how long it will last. Rather than just wait until it dies....lol

Dudethat PC is almost 17 years old.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Dudethat PC is almost 17 years old.

Yes I know that and still runs excellent.
Just wondering how long it will last.

 

[RustedWalleye]

IDK thinking about replacing my First Gen i7 Dell XPS purchased back in 2009 for $1,019.99 USD. It is dated but still runs great, better than new with SSDs and 16GB DDR3 Ram, being the only upgrades made.
Not a gamer and don't do video editing. Thinking of getting this for my needs. Price isn't bad, only 100 bucks more than what I paid for my current i7 purchased back in 2009:
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/des...rationid=e00d9436-78e3-4532-a365-85e9dd8fca72

Thoughts and comments?

DDR3 Ram? That’s like trying to sell a VCR because Blu-ray players are expensive.

DDR3 isn’t scarce... it’s retired with a pension. That computer isn't worth a $40 blow and go.

 

[WoodPeckr]

DDR3 Ram? That’s like trying to sell a VCR because Blu-ray players are expensive.

DDR3 isn’t scarce... it’s retired with a pension. That computer isn't worth a $40 blow and go.

LOL! Know all that but it still runs great, in fact better than new!

So it being kinda long in the tooth just wondering if it's time for a new desktop?

 

[HungSowel]

The high prices for core components will bring the entire PC industry down. Components outside of RAM, Storage, GPU, will be hurting for buyers. Components and peripherals like monitors, keyboards, networking, Power supplies, cases, cooling, mouse, etc...

I recently upgraded my gigabit network to 2.5gb, total cost for a switch + 3 network card was ~$50 USD. It was a killer upgrade for the money.

If you do not have a wifi 6 router, I think you should get a wifi 6 or better router, it is a good bang for buck upgrade.

My next upgrade will probably be a 4k OLED monitor.

I also have my eye on a new PC headset, there is a particular model that is wireless and the battery lasts 300 hours. I think it is regularly $300, if it drops to $150 or lower then I will buy.

If a sale happens on a good PC case and power supply, I would buy. I hate my current case and I want a better PSU.

 

[WoodPeckr]

My next upgrade will probably be a 4k OLED monitor,

Why a 4k monitor?

 

[glamphotographer]

Why a 4k monitor?

Can people really tell the difference between 1080p and 4K? I can't. So I don't need to spend the extra $$$ on 4K.

 

[HungSowel]

Why a 4k monitor?

I have been running a 4k monitor for the past 6 years. My computer is primarily for work, having a large screen real estate increases my productivity. Windows now has alot of shortcuts to tile your programs to take advantage of the high resolution.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I have been running a 4k monitor for the past 6 years. My computer is primarily for work, having a large screen real estate increases my productivity. Windows now has alot of shortcuts to tile your programs to take advantage of the high resolution.

OK Thanks.
I have a 32" 1080 monitor but not 4K monitor since our eyes can't distinguish the differences in monitors that small, between 4K and 1080. Did try using a larger monitor than 32" for a short time but found it just too large to use comfortably with my PC, so want back to 32".

4K usefulness comes into play for HDTVs 60" and larger, over 1080 HDTVs.

 

[richaceg]

Can't get a computer on a 2K budget anymore. 2026 is a bad year to do any upgrades.

I just assembled a gaming pc for my son for close to 800. unless you are serious in new games then yeah...2k+ should be your budget.
32x gb ddr4 i bought from marketplace for 80 and working good so far. used
AMD ryzen 3200 5 cpu with fan. 40. used
MB (new) $99 amazon. MSI 450
casing was $60 at canada computers
1TB for another $80
my sons friend sold him a GTX 960 for 40.
psply i got from an old gaming pc 700w.
monitor + kb + mouse for 250. 30" MSI monitor $180.
as long as nothing bottlenecks...it's good.