DDR5 pricing is insane – Greater than 5x increase in a year
DDR5 memory prices are now over 5x higher than they were last year
It’s been a while since we last looked at DDR5 memory prices. In November 2025, memory prices started to shoot up, and since then, pricing has only got worse. Now, a standard 32GB kit of DDR5-6000 memory (2x16GB) now costs over £400. That’s over 5x higher than this time last year. AI datacenter demand has decimated the consumer memory market. While manufacturers earn billions, consumers are paying insane prices for memory and the products that use it.
Today, a 32GB kit of DDR5-6000 memory now costs more than AMD’s premier gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. DDR5 memory was once a relatively inexpensive PC component; now it’s one of the most expensive. Sadly, that isn’t set to change anytime soon.
Below is how DDR5 pricing has changed since September 2025. These prices were from Amazon UK.
| DDR5 Memory | September 18th 2025 |
November 17th 2025 |
December 16th 2025 |
December 22nd 2025 |
December 23rd 2025 |
January 12th 2026 |
October 14th 2026 |
| Crucial Pro DDR5-6000 2x16GB CL36 |
£79 | £129 (+63%) |
£226 (+186%) |
£290 (+267%) |
£314 (+297%) |
£351 (+344%) |
£422 (+434%) |
(A 32GB DDR5 memory kit now costs more than an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D)
Don’t expect DDR5 price decreases anytime soon
DDR5 prices aren’t expected to decrease anytime soon. DRAM manufacturers have locked in today’s high prices through supply contracts, preventing significant short-term price drops even if demand collapses. AI datacenter buildouts have driven DRAM prices skyward, and inadequate supply has given global DRAM manufacturers the leverage to lock in today’s prices with customers. Even if AI datacenter demand collapses, that wouldn’t guarantee a DRAM price collapse, at least in the short term.
The future of DRAM pricing is uncertain. While DRAM producers are working to produce more DRAM and open more manufacturing sites, it will take years. For this reason, many expect DDR5 prices to stabilise in mid-to-late 2027 and potentially lower in 2028. That said, this depends on factors like AI memory demand and other variables. If AI demand accelerates, things could get even worse. If AI demand collapses, memory prices could lower, but not as quickly as many would hope.
Join the discussion on DDR5’s insane retail prices on the OC3D Forums.
