If there is one issue that plagued PC gaming throughout 2025 and is already spilling into 2026, it’s the rising cost of entry and upgrading. Newcomers face an increasingly expensive path into the platform, while long-time players are being asked to pay far more than ever just to keep their existing PCs relevant. Now, I know I’ve been harping about this for a while now, but I’m trying to get you to understand just how bad things have gotten.
We have sadly seen the price of PC hardware continue to climb across nearly every major category. RAM prices have surged again, with some kits seeing increases of $300 to $400 compared to previous years. I have personally visited several Best Buy locations and even Micro Center stores where RAM kits are being priced between $800 and $1,000, which feels borderline insane.
Take a look at the screenshot below, showing the Corsair Dominator Titanium 96GB RAM kit selling for nearly $1,250. Just a few months ago, this same kit was regularly priced between $700 and $900, and the store where I took this screenshot had it listed for around $800 prior to November 2025. That is roughly a $400 price...
