One look at RAM prices at the end of 2025 should be enough to make you wonder why you ever got into PC building and PC gaming in the first place. Driven by the AI datacenter buildout, the current squeeze on DRAM and NAND is jacking up the cost of nearly everything.
Rather than eating the cost or waiting for prices to drop (if they ever do), there's a third alternative. Newegg is still offering some RAM and motherboard bundles in which you can get DDR5 for a much more reasonable price. Don't need a new board? Someone does, and you can be the one who provides it.
FAQ
Why are DDR5 RAM prices so high right now?
DDR5 RAM prices have spiked due to massive, unprecedented demand from the global AI datacenter buildout. RAM producers are happy to supply the highest bidder, and that's currently AI firms with their seemingly unending bankroll. That leaves mere scraps for the rest of us to fight over.
Are DDR4 RAM prices also affected?
DDR5 RAM has taken the hardest hit so far, but DDR4 RAM is also experiencing a spike as consumers turn to the older standard. The problem? DDR4 doesn't work with many modern CPUs, leaving you with two options: eat the cost of DDR5 or wait for an end to the crisis.
When will the DRAM and NAND shortage end?
No one knows when the DRAM and NAND shortages will end. AI firms have bought up supply for years to come, and unless the AI bubble (if there is one) pops, there's not really a pleasant conclusion to the story.
Are pre-built PCs and laptops also expected to cost more in 2026?
Absolutely. Because most of the tech we love uses memory (which requires DRAM) and storage (which requires NAND), prices for Windows laptops, pre-built desktop PCs, TVs, tablets, phones, and so much more are expected to continue to rise in 2026.
Can I return the motherboard to Newegg and keep the RAM?
Not likely. Newegg mentions on the product pages that "some combos are restricted from returning individual products for a refund and must be returned in their entirety." Your best bet is to sell it to someone else hoping to put together a new PC.
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