I'm building a PC and trying to decide when to buy 32GB of DDR5 memory. In less than a month, the price I'm seeing has risen from around €300 to €600. I'd ideally wait until Black Friday to purchase the rest of the components, but I'm worried RAM could become even more expensive before then. Is it smarter to buy the memory now, or is there a realistic chance prices will drop by Black Friday?
5 Answers
If you can wait, monitor several retailers and set a price limit rather than relying specifically on Black Friday. A temporary promotion could appear before then, but there’s also a real chance the current prices continue climbing. There isn’t enough information to guarantee either outcome.
Before committing to 32GB, check your actual workload. Gaming usually doesn’t require more than 32GB, while video editing, streaming, and programs such as Adobe After Effects can justify having more. Switching to an older platform such as DDR4 might reduce the cost, but only makes sense if you’re comfortable giving up the newer upgrade path.
The recent increases seem tied to broader memory demand and supply issues, so this may not be a short-term fluctuation. Some components could stay stable while others rise, but there’s no clear indication that DDR5 will return to its previous price by Black Friday. You could buy the RAM now and wait on the rest of the build.
I wouldn’t assume Black Friday will bring a major discount on individual PC components. Historically, the best deals are often on complete systems or selected parts, not necessarily core components like memory. If you find a price you consider acceptable, it may be better to take it rather than gamble on a sale.
If you have the money and need the PC soon, buying now is probably the safer choice. Nobody can reliably predict RAM prices, and with prices already rising so sharply, waiting could save money—or leave you paying even more. Don’t borrow money for the build, though, unless the computer is directly needed for work.
I’m sticking with DDR5 and only want 32GB, mainly for gaming plus Photoshop and After Effects. The problem is that even that amount has become surprisingly expensive.