These prebuilt PCs are about to cost more due to rising RAM prices | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.These prebuilt PCs are about to cost more due to rising RAM pricesComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechThese prebuilt PCs are about to cost more due to rising RAM pricesCyberPowerPC is planning to raise prices across all of its systems, while Maingear is trying to stave off increases for as long as it can.CyberPowerPC is planning to raise prices across all of its systems, while Maingear is trying to stave off increases for as long as it can.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothNov 26, 2025, 10:25 PM UTCLinkSharePhoto by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.The skyrocketing price of RAM is trickling down to custom PC makers, including CyberPowerPC and Maingear. On Wednesday, CyberPowerPC announced that it plans to adjust the pricing across all of its systems on December 7th, as reported earlier by PCMag.“Recently, global memory (RAM) prices have surged by 500% and SSD prices have risen by 100%,” CyberPowerPC says in a statement posted on X. “This has had a direct impact on the cost of building gaming PCs since 10/1/25.”Meanwhile, Maingear is trying to stave off price increases for as long as it can. “I anticipate that the prices will continue to rise and then we will eventually have to increase our lead times as stock and allocation becomes constrained, but we are in constant communication with our vendors and will delay these increases for as long as we possibly can,” Maingear CEO Wallace Santos tells Wccftech.The price of RAM has fluctuated greatly over the past month as AI companies buy up more RAM and data storage for their sprawling data centers. Some physical stores have resorted to pricing the components at market prices, not unlike how seafood restaurants sell the catch-of-the-day. CyberPowerPC predicts that the “price increases will be temporary,” and will go back down “when market conditions change.”RelatedRAM prices are so out of control that stores are selling it like lobsterMaingear CEO Wallace Santos tells Wccftech that customers might want to start “shopping now” if they need a memory or storage upgrade. Though this may seem like another way to boost sales for Black Friday, Santos appears to be genuinely warning of an increased shortage, and says the PCs he’s selling this Black Friday have been “sheltered from these price increases.”Skytech Gaming, another company that specializes in prebuilt and custom PCs, said in a post on Facebook that it’s “getting hit with RAM price increases too,” though it’s unclear whether these changes are impacting the prices listed on its website yet.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularWyze’s new security camera watches your yard from inside your homeLarge language mistakeI’m officially done with YouTube KidsYou can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakersCampbell’s fired the VP recorded saying its meat ‘came from a 3D printer’The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The rising cost of Random Access Memory (RAM) is triggering a ripple effect throughout the custom prebuilt PC market, primarily impacting companies like CyberPowerPC and Maingear. This situation highlights the complex interplay between large-scale technological shifts – specifically the burgeoning demand from artificial intelligence (AI) companies – and the supply chains that underpin consumer electronics. The core issue stems from a 500% surge in global memory prices, compounded by a 100% increase in SSD prices over the past month. This dramatic escalation is directly attributable to AI firms aggressively expanding their data centers, necessitating significantly higher quantities of RAM and associated storage solutions. CyberPowerPC, acknowledging this trend, announced a company-wide price adjustment, scheduled for December 7th, reflecting the increased component costs. Maingear, attempting to mitigate the impact for its customers, is delaying price increases and lead time expansions, though it anticipates further rises and potential material shortages. This proactive approach reflects a strategy to avoid potential stockouts and maintain customer confidence. Interestingly, the situation mirrors the dynamics of the seafood industry, where components are increasingly treated as a high-value commodity, akin to the sale of "catch of the day," indicating a market responding to high demand. CyberPowerPC anticipates these price increases will be temporary, contingent on market conditions changing, while Maingear CEO Wallace Santos stresses the urgency for customers to “shop now” if they require memory or storage upgrades, suggesting a genuine concern about potential scarcity. Another company, Skytech Gaming, operating in the same sector, has also confirmed the impact of RAM price increases, though the extent of their immediate effect on website pricing remains unverified. This dynamic situation underscores a significant challenge for PC builders and consumers navigating the rapidly evolving technological landscape.