RAM, storage, and GPU prices will be brutal for PC builders in 2026
We’re knee-deep in the ongoing DRAM crisis. Consumer RAM prices have tripled in a matter of weeks, SSDs have also shot up, and graphics cards are sure to follow. This AI-induced crisis might not be limited to the next year. Some reports estimate that DRAM supply will remain strained well into 2028. With a dark cloud looming over the PC hardware industry, you might have to shelve your upgrade plans indefinitely. However, I believe most gamers can do without a new PC or upgrade for the foreseeable future. Here are a few telltale signs that your existing gaming PC is immune to the current market forces.
You still play your old favorites
Focus on your backlog, not on RAM and GPU prices
It’s no surprise that countless gamers, despite having a modern gaming rig, spend most of their time revisiting old games. The number of truly worthwhile single-player games coming out has gone down drastically. Plus, sky-high hardware requirements and subpar optimization shatter any performance expectations you have at launch. If you’re like me, and struggle to invest hours in a new game you probably won’t like, the bulk of modern releases won’t be worth your time. This makes a brand-new PC, graphics card, or CPU pointless. Whether you’re playing old favorites from a decade ago, or finishing your backlog of classic games that you missed out on, your existing PC will continue to be relevant for many more years.
Even if your existing GPU has only 8GB of VRAM, you probably won’t exceed it when playing games released 7–10 years ago. And 16GB of RAM might not be the sweet spot anymore, but it can easily handle any older titles you throw at it. The true extent of the DRAM crisis will unfold over the next year, but you don’t need to sweat it. It’s time to finally play Undertale, Half-Life, and Metro Exodus as we prepare, yet again, to weather the storm of overpriced PC components.
You prefer indie games and lightweight multiplayer titles
I spend hours playing a browser game on my RTX 3080
Picture this: even when you’re considering new releases, you stick to indie titles and the multiplayer games your friends play regularly.
