RAM shortage chaos expands to GPUs, high-capacity SSDs, and even hard drives

The ongoing memory shortage spurred by advancements in AI technology is poised to become a significant narrative in the PC industry for 2026 and beyond. Initially, standalone RAM kits for consumers were among the first to experience drastic price hikes, soaring by 300 to 400 percent by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, prices for SSDs have also increased, although the rise has been less severe. As we move further into 2026, the focus will shift to how these price surges will impact computers, smartphones, and other devices reliant on RAM and NAND chips. So far, the existing supply of products and long-term contracts negotiated by larger companies have shielded these categories from drastic price increases. However, recent developments indicate that the RAM shortage is beginning to disrupt the GPU market as well. In a surprising turn of events, Asus announced that it would be discontinuing its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti model. Although the company has since attempted to retract this statement, the reasoning behind such a move is compelling for GPU manufacturers. The RTX 5070 Ti features 16GB of GDDR7 memory and utilizes a partially disabled version of Nvidia's GB203 GPU, which is also used in the more premium RTX 5080 model. Given that the same components can be redirected towards a card with a higher MSRP, such as the RTX 5080 priced at $999, the decision to deprioritize the 5070 Ti becomes more logical. Currently, the street prices for RTX 5070 Ti models have surged to between $1,050 and $1,100 on platforms like Newegg, while RTX 5080 cards start at a significantly higher range of $1,500 to $1,600. Even though the 5080 models may require more durable boards and cooling systems, the potential for maximizing profit per GPU suggests a strategic shift in production focus towards these higher-end models could be on the horizon.