Why are prices of Gaming PCs rising in Autumn 2026?
Published
19 October 2026
The short version
If you're pricing up a gaming PC this autumn, memory and storage cost far more than they did a year ago, and that isn't about to change. Reports from late August 2026 put a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit at around $400, against $80 to $120 twelve months earlier. Graphics cards and processors have moved less, but the whole build is dearer for it.
Here's what's driving it, what's worth buying right now, and how we keep builds sensible at Game Ready Systems.
Why RAM and SSD prices exploded
The cause is AI. Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have steered wafer capacity towards high-bandwidth memory for AI accelerators, which pays more than a retail RAM kit and uses far more silicon. Ordinary consumer DRAM is what's left once data-centre orders are filled.
The numbers are stark:
- TrendForce recorded conventional DRAM contract prices up roughly 93 to 98 percent in Q1 2026, then another 58 to 63 percent in Q2.
- Gartner projects DRAM and SSD prices rising a combined 130 percent by the end of 2026, with average PC prices up 17 percent and shipments down 10.4 percent.
- One UK-priced report found a mid-range Ryzen and Radeon gaming PC with 32GB RAM and a 2TB NVMe drive going from under £1,000 at the end of 2025 to over £1,600.
SSDs have followed memory up, because NAND flash is caught in the same squeeze.
GPUs and CPUs: what's good now, and what's coming
The graphics card is still where your money does the most for frame rates, and 16GB of video memory is the sweet spot for newer games.
- 1080p: the RTX 5060 is a reliable choice, and the RX 9060 XT 16GB gives you far more VRAM headroom for the money.
- 1440p: the RTX 5070 and RX 9070 are the mid-range picks.
- High refresh 1440p and capable 4K: one review roundup names the RTX 5070 Ti as the best card for most gamers, with the RX 9070 XT as AMD's strong-value alternative.
Avoid 8GB cards if you plan to game at 1440p or above. Nvidia has also reportedly raised the kit prices it charges board partners three times this year, so new-card prices are creeping up too.
On the processor side, AMD's X3D chips still lead for gaming, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the newer 9850X3D at the top. At 1440p and 4K the GPU is the limit, so the gap between CPUs shrinks a lot. AMD says Zen 6 is coming later this year, and Intel's Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400) is widely expected in late 2026, though Intel hasn't confirmed a date. AMD has also brought back the 5800X3D, which is good news for anyone on an older AM4 board.
Should you wait?
Not for the new processors, because they won't fix memory pricing. Analysts expect RAM and SSD costs to stay high through the rest of 2026, and some expect further rises, so waiting is a gamble.
A few ways to spend sensibly:
- Pick your resolution first. It decides how much GPU you need, and the GPU is where performance comes from.
- Size your RAM and storage to what you actually play. 32GB is the comfortable default, but 16GB still runs most games, and you can add more later.
- Don't stock up on spare sticks. Buying extra memory at today's prices is a weak hedge if you can wait.
- Choose a platform with an upgrade path. AM5 gives you room to move up to newer chips without replacing the motherboard.
How we build at Game Ready Systems
This market is why our standard builds use used RAM and graphics cards, with every other part new. It keeps the price of a working gaming PC down while new memory is this expensive, and the whole machine still carries a 1-year parts warranty.
We ship by DPD 24-hour across Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Shetland and the Western Isles. If something goes wrong, we repair by post or drop-off.
Want help choosing a build for your budget and resolution? Browse our range at gamereadysystems.co.uk or email gamereadysystemsuk@gmail.com.