Industry experts share their thoughts on the skyrocketing cost of components such as RAM, GPUs, and SSDs, how development is affected, and how long this could go on
Generative AI has significantly affected the price and availability of computer hardware, with major chip producers focusing on supplying AI data centers. This has led to a shortage of components for consumer hardware and a surge in prices, particularly for memory chips like DDR5 RAM, which now cost up to eight times more than in September 2025.
The shift from DRAM to HBM by sector giants like Samsung and Micron has left smaller companies struggling with supply shortages. Older hardware supporting DDR4 RAM is now in high demand due to cost advantages, while newer components like Nvidia GPUs and SSDs are also facing price hikes.
Consumer costs are rising as hardware manufacturers pass on price pressures. Sony raised the price of the PlayStation 5, and Nintendo is expected to increase the cost of the Switch 2 due to rising DDR5 prices. These price hikes could impact the gaming market's hardware investment and demand for new games.
