The PC industry's RAM shortage, which began with a surge in demand for high-capacity memory modules, is now having a ripple effect on the GPU and storage markets.
As of January 2026, standalone RAM kits are commanding prices that are three to four times their original cost, while SSDs have seen a similar price hike. However, the GPU market is starting to feel the pinch as well. Asus recently announced it was discontinuing its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti due to an "unprecedented" shortage of RAM.
GPU manufacturers are reportedly prioritizing more profitable models and may discontinue or de-prioritize less expensive options like the RTX 5070 Ti, which uses similar hardware to the more expensive RTX 5080. The street price for RTX 5070 Ti models now starts at around $1,050-$1,100 on Newegg, compared to the original MSRP of $749.
While this is a challenging time for those looking to upgrade their graphics cards, there are still some affordable options available, such as low-end to mid-range GPUs that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming without significant upscaling. The Radeon RX 9070 XT, for example, remains relatively affordable at around $730-$750.
However, the situation is more dire for high-capacity SSDs. Prices for 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB drives have increased significantly, with some retailers now selling them for twice or even three times their original cost. The prices of high-end SSDs from major brands like Samsung and WD/SanDisk are particularly affected, with many models currently out of stock or commanding exorbitant prices.
Even hard disk drive prices are starting to climb, albeit more gradually. While the price increases may not be as extreme as those seen in RAM and SSD markets, they still indicate a broader supply shortage that could have implications for data center operations and cloud computing services.
As the PC industry continues to grapple with these shortages, buyers should remain vigilant and monitor prices closely to avoid being caught off guard by rapid changes in market conditions.
As of January 2026, standalone RAM kits are commanding prices that are three to four times their original cost, while SSDs have seen a similar price hike. However, the GPU market is starting to feel the pinch as well. Asus recently announced it was discontinuing its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti due to an "unprecedented" shortage of RAM.
GPU manufacturers are reportedly prioritizing more profitable models and may discontinue or de-prioritize less expensive options like the RTX 5070 Ti, which uses similar hardware to the more expensive RTX 5080. The street price for RTX 5070 Ti models now starts at around $1,050-$1,100 on Newegg, compared to the original MSRP of $749.
While this is a challenging time for those looking to upgrade their graphics cards, there are still some affordable options available, such as low-end to mid-range GPUs that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming without significant upscaling. The Radeon RX 9070 XT, for example, remains relatively affordable at around $730-$750.
However, the situation is more dire for high-capacity SSDs. Prices for 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB drives have increased significantly, with some retailers now selling them for twice or even three times their original cost. The prices of high-end SSDs from major brands like Samsung and WD/SanDisk are particularly affected, with many models currently out of stock or commanding exorbitant prices.
Even hard disk drive prices are starting to climb, albeit more gradually. While the price increases may not be as extreme as those seen in RAM and SSD markets, they still indicate a broader supply shortage that could have implications for data center operations and cloud computing services.
As the PC industry continues to grapple with these shortages, buyers should remain vigilant and monitor prices closely to avoid being caught off guard by rapid changes in market conditions.
it's crazy how this RAM shortage is affecting everything else like GPU and storage 
those high-capacity SSDs are now 3x more expensive than they were originally 
and GPU manufacturers are having to ditch some models because of the shortage 
low-end to mid-range GPUs can still handle 1080p/1440p gaming tho so that's a silver lining 
but overall it's like, PC upgrades just got super complicated 
but on the bright side, like u said, there are still some affordable options out there 
like the radeon rx 9070 xt! that's a great find! 
it's like the whole industry is feeling the pinch. SSDs are getting hit hard too, with some drives selling for twice their original price 
anyway, i guess you just have to be careful and keep an eye on prices if you want to get into upgrading your rig or buying new hardware 
. And yeah, I know some people want that GeForce RTX 5080 
. Anyone else feeling frustrated with these price hikes? 
like wut about all us gamers who just wanna play without breaking the bank? 
so yeah idc if u need a high-end GPU u might have to splurge 
it's like the whole PC industry is getting affected now GPU manufacturers are even discontinuing models because they can't get enough RAM 
and high-capacity SSDs are basically unaffordable now 
it's gonna affect a lot of people who need those for data center ops or cloud computing services 
. It's like, can't we just get a decent drive or RAM module without breaking the bank? 
Anyway, gotta stay on top of prices now.
. I mean, who expects to pay twice or even three times more than the original price for a 500GB drive? It's like the market has just lost its mind 
. And yeah, HDDs are starting to climb too... but at least they're not as extreme.
. Buyers should def keep an eye on prices and be prepared for some wild market swings