RAM and SSD prices are skyrocketing, what should you consider when buying a new PC?

The wave of investment in artificial intelligence is causing the price of DRAM and NAND memory chips to increase sharply. Large capacity modules are currently 4 to 5 times more expensive than the same period last year. This increase of up to 400% causes the cost of many devices to increase, from computer components, graphics cards to phones, game consoles and routers. It is forecasted that memory prices will continue to rise before stabilizing and there are unlikely to be any price reductions before the end of 2027. Faced with this situation, users need to determine their actual needs instead of chasing the highest configuration. Some components can optimize costs without detracting from the daily experience. PCIe 5.0 SSD hard drives reach speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, but office tasks, web browsing or most games show almost no difference compared to the PCIe 3.0 standard with speeds of about 2,500 MB/s, even old SATA drives. Users should prioritize spacious storage capacity on popular PCIe standards instead of spending more money for the maximum speed of the new generation. RAM memory becomes a component that accounts for a large proportion of costs. Capacity level is more important than clock speed. Choosing 32GB DDR5 running at 5,600 MT/s will provide better multitasking performance than 16GB running at 7,200 MT/s. Desktop users should choose the configuration of 2 16GB sticks instead of 4 8GB sticks to retain free slots for future upgrades.

Desktop processors currently have two latest CPU lines: Intel Core Ultra 200K Plus and AMD Ryzen 9000 Series. Both companies plan to launch the next generation including Intel Nova Lake and Ryzen 10000 Olympic Ridge at the end of the year or early 2027. Computer buyers can look for discounts on older generations to save money if they do not need new features. Graphics cards are the components that determine gaming performance, 3D rendering or AI processing. Users who only browse the web can use the processor's built-in graphics. Currently, NVIDIA is leading in ray tracing and the ability to upgrade resolution using AI. AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series has strengths in pure rendering performance and better support for Linux operating systems. Intel's graphics card line will target the popular segment for those who are not too demanding in terms of graphics, especially only playing 1080p Esport. While the price of memory chips increases, some other components maintain good prices or gradually decrease over time. A 1440p OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate is available for under $400 as the Gigabyte GO27Q24G model. 4K monitor lines for office needs such as LG 27US550-W or Samsung Viewfinity S70D are priced from 300 USD or less. Computer cases, power sources and heatsinks are also components that keep prices stable. If you do not need the device urgently, users can split their shopping plan to collect components according to each promotion. The option of buying used or refurbished goods also helps reduce costs. With old SSDs, buyers need to carefully check TBW parameters through data reading tools to avoid buying a drive that has lost its writing capacity. PCWorld.