The ongoing global shortage of RAM is now affecting the prices of graphics cards, solid state drives, and other storage devices. Reports suggest that both online and offline retailers have seen noticeable price increases over the past few months. The rise is being linked to limited availability of memory components and NAND chips, which are used in these products.
A technology publication has reported that GPU and storage drive prices are already climbing, with further increases likely. Concerns grew after a major graphics card manufacturer reportedly informed another tech outlet that one of its popular models was placed under end of life status due to supply issues.
The decision appears to be linked to component prioritisation. This specific GPU uses the same type of memory and a similar chip as a higher priced model. With the global RAM shortage already straining the supply chain, companies are reportedly choosing to focus on more expensive products.
In the United States, the RTX 5070 is now selling for about 570 dollars, higher than its usual price of 549 dollars. Similarly, AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, which was earlier priced at 599 dollars, is now selling for around 750 dollars. While these increases are not as extreme as those seen for RAM, they have been noticed within the past 30 days.
The situation is reportedly worse for SSDs. A standard 1TB M.2 SSD now costs around 150 dollars, compared to 135 dollars earlier this month. A 2TB Samsung 990 Evo Plus is currently priced at 440 dollars, far above its listed price of 177 dollars. Finding a 4TB SSD from a known brand has also become difficult due to high prices or limited stock.
With component costs rising early in 2026 and experts predicting continued increases, PC and laptop prices are expected to go up. Consumers planning upgrades without urgency are advised to wait.
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