Why Are Memory and SSD Prices Increasing?
If you’ve been shopping for a new gaming PC or looking to upgrade your system lately, you might have noticed that RAM and SSD prices are rising. What were once budget-friendly components are now climbing in cost — and it’s not without reason.
Here’s what’s driving the surge, and what it means for PC builders and gamers across the UK.
1. The AI Boom Is Consuming Memory Supply
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the global hardware market.
Massive data centres powering AI workloads are demanding huge amounts of DRAM and NAND flash storage — the same components found in your PC, just on a much larger scale.
With manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix prioritising high-margin enterprise clients, consumer memory supply is shrinking, pushing prices up across both DDR4 and DDR5.
2. The Slow Fade of DDR4 Production
DDR4 memory has been the industry standard since 2014 — but all good things come to an end.
Memory manufacturers have begun phasing out DDR4 production in favour of DDR5, which is now the mainstream choice for modern CPUs from Intel and AMD.
With less DDR4 being produced and plenty of users still running older systems, prices are spiking. In some cases, DDR4 kits now cost as much as DDR5, removing its traditional “budget” appeal.
3. NAND Shortages Are Affecting SSD Prices
It’s not just RAM — SSD prices are rising too.
The flash memory used inside SSDs (known as NAND) has jumped in price by up to 20% in recent weeks.
Suppliers are cutting production, and many are redirecting their best NAND chips to high-performance data centre drives, leaving fewer affordable options for everyday PCs.
The result is higher SSD prices and reduced availability of budget models.
The End of an Era: DDR4 Is Fading Out
DDR4 isn’t vanishing overnight, but it’s quickly becoming a legacy standard.
Newer platforms such as Intel’s 14th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000 now only support DDR5, meaning future builds will naturally move away from DDR4 entirely.
As production stops and existing stock sells out, DDR4 will become rarer and more expensive — similar to what happened with DDR3 a few years ago.
If you’re building a new PC in 2025, DDR5 is now the smarter investment. It’s faster, more efficient, and surprisingly close in price.
What This Means for PC Buyers
For PC gamers and builders, here’s what you should know:
- Lock in your build early. Prices are rising month to month, so ordering sooner can save you money.
- Choose DDR5 for new builds. It’s faster, future-proof, and now close in price to DDR4.
- Don’t delay upgrades too long. As DDR4 production winds down, supply will tighten further.
- Expect SSD prices to remain volatile. We may see small dips, but the overall trend is upward through 2026.
Direct Computers’ Commitment
At Direct Computers, we’re staying ahead of the market.
We work closely with our suppliers to secure stock early and maintain competitive prices — even as component costs rise worldwide.
Every DCG system includes:
- Premium components from trusted brands
- Expert assembly and testing
- Windows 11 Pro preinstalled
- 3-year warranty as standard
Whether you’re looking for an affordable setup like the DCG Nova – Ryzen 5 Gaming PC or a fully custom RTX-powered rig, you’ll always get unbeatable value and performance.
Final Thoughts
The end of DDR4 marks the beginning of a new era for PC hardware.
With AI demand reshaping the supply chain and manufacturers moving fully to DDR5, memory and storage prices are unlikely to return to 2023 levels anytime soon.
But one thing remains constant — Direct Computers continues to deliver the best possible gaming PCs at the best possible prices in the UK.
