I recently got a Christmas bonus and I'm excited to finally build a PC, setting a budget of around £1200. However, I've been doing some research and I've noticed that RAM prices are absolutely outrageous right now, which is making my planned build much more expensive than I anticipated. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and purchase most of the parts now, especially since I'm worried that prices for GPUs and SSDs might rise even more soon. My thought is to hold off on RAM until the prices stabilize and perhaps grab some second-hand options. What do you think? Should I buy now or wait for better prices for my build?
5 Answers
Prices are indeed all over the place. I noticed SSDs doubling in price recently, and the demand from AI datacenters isn't helping either. If you're looking to get DDR5 RAM, be aware that production is limited and prices may stay high for quite a while. It might be worse before it gets better, so keeping an eye on the market is essential.
Waiting can feel like a gamble. The price fluctuations are unpredictable, and even if prices drop, there’s a chance they could go up again. Some say we might not see stabilization until 2028. Ultimately, it’s about your personal preference and risk tolerance!
I wouldn't recommend buying parts just to have them collecting dust. Especially if they might sit outside of their return window. It often makes more sense to wait until you're ready to build rather than risk having unused components.
It really depends on what you need your PC for. If you rely heavily on it and can’t afford any downtime, it might be smart to start stocking up now. Personally, I’ve got two GPUs, so if one fails, I can manage with the other for a while. Just weigh your situation carefully!
You can start purchasing components that are less affected by current price hikes and watch RAM prices closely. There's nothing wrong with building your rig in stages. For example, you could start with 16GB of RAM now and add another identical kit later. Just keep compatibility in mind and check the QVL list for your motherboard.
12GB VRAM is actually fine for 1080p or 1440p gaming, so you might not need the super high-end models just yet.