I'm saving up to build my first PC, but I was shocked to see 32GB DDR5 kits listed for more than R20,000, which is roughly $800. That would cost almost as much as my entire planned build. What is driving these prices, and are there any sensible alternatives or ways to find RAM at a more reasonable price?
4 Answers
It’s worth comparing multiple stores before assuming every kit costs that much. Some new 32GB DDR5 kits can reportedly be found for under R7,000, depending on the speed, brand, and retailer. Double-check the listing, since unusually high prices may be for premium or incorrectly priced products.
If you need to build now, DDR4 is still perfectly usable for many systems and can be much cheaper. An AM4 build is also still viable for a budget PC, although it has less of an upgrade path than AM5. You could save money now and upgrade platforms later instead of letting RAM consume the whole budget.
This is frustratingly similar to other hardware shortages: prices can remain inflated long after demand starts cooling because suppliers and retailers don’t immediately pass savings on. The 2021 GPU shortage was arguably even worse in some regions, so delaying the build or buying only after checking current local prices may be the safest approach.
The market is unusually bad right now. Demand from data centers and AI-related hardware has put pressure on memory production, while manufacturers and retailers are also taking advantage of limited supply. Prices may settle eventually, but there’s no guarantee it will happen quickly.
The GPU shortage was definitely brutal too; people were paying around $1,200–$1,500 for cards that should have cost far less. It’s hard to know whether memory prices will normalize soon, though.