Computer memory prices keep climbing, and the AI boom may be why

Computer memory is getting more expensive, not cheaper. A 32GB kit of DDR5 (the current type of memory in new PCs) now costs about $500. When Tom's Guide wrote about it earlier this year, the price was about $400. The writer had predicted a drop by August. That did not happen.

What changed

The article blames a mix of pressures: heavy demand from AI companies, historically low inventory, tariffs, and chipmakers moving production toward servers instead of consumer memory. It also says the Nvidia RTX 5080 graphics card now peaks at over $2,000. Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron are named as the makers putting business memory first.

Altman's argument

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on the Cheeky Pint podcast that memory in personal computers is a poor use of it. He said running AI locally, on your own device, uses that memory only about 5% of the time. He called it a "terrible allocation of scarce resources" and argued the memory belongs in data centers.

The writer disagrees. People want local AI for privacy, no usage limits, and no cloud subscription. The writer also points out that OpenAI helped cause the shortage by locking up so much supply.

The money behind it

The writer argues the AI spending boom is showing strain. Anthropic's IPO filing reports $16.3 billion in revenue for the first half of 2026 and an $80.7 billion net loss. It spent nearly $9 billion on AI infrastructure in six months. It also has an $800 billion commitment for computing power over 10 years.

The article also cites a 40% fall in China's STAR50 index, about $480 billion in lost value, and a sharp drop in the S&P 500. It says some business customers are cutting AI spending because bills got too high.

What happens next

The writer lays out two scenarios. In the first, AI companies cut server budgets and memory makers return to consumer products. DDR5 floods the market and prices fall. The text of the second scenario is cut off in the material, so what it predicts is not known here. This is the writer's opinion, not a confirmed forecast.

What to do

• If you need a PC or laptop now, expect to pay more for memory and graphics cards.
• If your purchase can wait, watch prices for signs of easing.
• Do not count on a quick drop. The earlier August prediction missed.