Last checked: 25 October 2026. Prices are US dollars from US retailers unless stated, and they change daily. This is a research-based guide built from the sources listed at the end. DinhoReviews has not tested any of the hardware mentioned, and this is general information, not personal financial advice.

The short answer

There is no cheap option right now, only the least bad one for your situation. Our editorial view: if your current PC still plays what you play, waiting costs you nothing. If you need a machine now, compare complete systems (a prebuilt PC or a laptop) against the cost of buying parts, because building your own is no longer a reliable way to save money. And if you can wait until Black Friday on 27 November, use it for complete systems and peripherals, not for RAM.

The reason to be cautious about waiting for “normal” prices is that the newest forecasts point the wrong way, as the next section explains.

What changed since our last explainer

In our explainer on why PC parts cost so much we covered forecasts that ranged from relief in mid-2027 to a worsening gap. Since then, the memory maker Micron has given the clearest signal yet. On its earnings call on 1 October 2026, its CEO said supply and demand should be much tighter in 2027 and 2028 than in 2026, and that the company has no line of sight to when they return to balance. Micron also said it had already committed more than 75 percent of its 2027 output, according to CIO.

Other forecasts, all reported rather than measured by us:

• DRAM: research firm TrendForce forecast on 30 September that conventional DRAM contract prices rise another 10 to 15 percent in the fourth quarter. It says increases are slowing, but the market stays undersupplied.
• SSDs: TrendForce forecasts NAND flash contract prices up 15 to 20 percent in the fourth quarter, but in July it expected NAND to move toward balance in 2027 while DRAM stays tight. SSDs may ease before RAM does. That is a forecast, not a promise.
• Whole PCs: IDC forecast in June that average PC selling prices rise 17 percent in 2026. Lenovo’s CEO said in August that he expects supply to stay constrained at least through the end of 2027.

Even when memory prices do fall, a retail analyst quoted by CNN estimated it would take at least a year for that to reach shelf prices. Earlier optimistic views, such as the Acer CEO’s expectation of falling prices after mid-2027, remain on record but now look like the minority position.

What building a PC costs right now

RAM is where the damage is easiest to see. These are the lowest US retail prices Tom’s Hardware listed in its RAM price tracker when it was last updated on 22 October 2026, next to the lowest prices it has ever tracked for the same kits:

Memory kit	Lowest US price, 22 Oct 2026	Lowest ever tracked
32GB DDR5-6000	$447	$72
32GB DDR5-5600	$479	$72
64GB DDR5-6000	$989	$159
32GB DDR4-3200	$199	$193

For context, Tom’s Hardware says a 32GB DDR5 kit sold for around $100 to $200 in October 2025, and a 32GB DDR4 kit for $60 to $90. The same page notes that building a new DDR4 system makes little sense because of processor and motherboard availability, so cheaper old memory is mainly an option for upgrading a PC you already own.

RAM is only one line on the bill. Graphics cards and SSDs are also affected, as we explained in the earlier article.

Is a prebuilt PC cheaper than building?

Sometimes, and more often than it used to be. An IDC analyst quoted by PCWorld said that smaller assemblers, which includes DIY systems built by gamers, would carry the greatest burden of the shortage, and that large manufacturers could gain share by offering prebuilt systems as better value. SlashGear’s 2026 analysis reaches a similar conclusion: the automatic cost advantage of building has eroded, and in one of its examples a $1,990 prebuilt came close to the cost of buying the same parts.

That does not mean every prebuilt is a bargain. We have not compared specific systems, and makers can hold a price by quietly reducing the specification. Compare line by line:

• RAM amount and whether there are free slots to add more later.
• SSD size (512GB versus 1TB matters).
• Power supply, cooling and motherboard quality, which are the parts budget systems economize on.
• The total price of an equivalent parts list at today’s prices, not last year’s.

Where a gaming laptop fits

A laptop already includes its RAM and SSD, so its price reflects the same memory costs. A laptop makes sense if you need portability or want one box with a screen, keyboard and battery. It is not automatically the cheaper path, and it is harder to upgrade later.

If you go this way, check whether the RAM is soldered to the board, because soldered memory cannot be increased later. Our gaming laptop buying guide explains how to read graphics wattage, VRAM, screen and cooling specs, which matter as much as the GPU name.

One more point from the CNN report: an IDC analyst said the largest jump in consumer device prices has probably already happened, and that prices will keep rising at a slower pace. That supports not rushing in panic, but it does not support expecting a drop.

A newer kind of laptop is also arriving: our RTX Spark explainer covers Arm-based laptops, what early tests show and where compatibility still falls short.

What you would be waiting for

• Black Friday (27 November) and Cyber Monday (30 November). Retailers confirm both dates, and sales usually start earlier in November. PC Gamer’s Australian edition, updated 21 October, says not to expect RAM, SSD or graphics card prices from 2025, and that the component crisis is more likely to worsen than ease before late November. Monitors, headsets, keyboards and mice are where it expects strong discounts, and some complete gaming systems are already being discounted by their makers.
• RTX 50 Super graphics cards (rumor). The refresh has been rumored for more than a year with conflicting dates, from late 2026 to CES in January 2027. We found no official Nvidia announcement, and any price depends on memory costs. We would not plan a purchase around a rumor.
• Cheaper memory (forecast). As above, the largest maker expects tighter supply through 2028. Waiting for relief is a bet against that.

Which path fits you? (editorial opinion)

• Your PC or laptop still runs your games acceptably: wait, and upgrade only what is actually limiting you. Do not buy RAM you do not need.
• You only need more RAM or storage: buy the smallest amount that solves the problem, and check the price history first.
• You need a new desktop within a month: price a prebuilt and a parts list side by side. If you can wait until 27 November, compare again then.
• You need portability: buy a laptop, check the RAM is not too small and not soldered at that size, and keep the receipt for returns.
• You enjoy building and have a budget buffer: building is still possible, but expect to pay a premium and do not assume it will be the cheapest route.

A simple plan before Black Friday

1. Decide your maximum budget and the games you want to play.
2. Shortlist two or three complete systems and write down today’s price and date.
3. Check a price-history tool so a “sale” cannot hide a price that was raised first.
4. Compare the exact specifications, warranty and return policy, not just the headline discount.
5. Buy only if the deal beats your recorded price. If it does not, you have lost nothing by waiting.

What we do not know

We have not tested hardware or compared specific prebuilt systems or laptops, prices are US-only snapshots, and forecasts from analysts and manufacturers change. Memory makers also benefit from tight supply, so their warnings deserve some skepticism. We will update this guide after Black Friday if the picture changes.

Sources

• CIO: Memory squeeze set to tighten through 2028, Micron says (1 Oct 2026), which also reports the TrendForce 30 Sep outlook, IDC’s June forecast and Lenovo’s August remarks
• TrendForce: Diverging memory outlook for 2027, DRAM tight and NAND easing (30 Jul 2026)
• Tom’s Hardware: RAM price tracker (updated 22 Oct 2026)
• PCWorld: PC prices could rise in 2026 due to memory shortages (IDC)
• SlashGear: Is building your own PC still the cheaper option in 2026? and SlashGear: pre-builts cheaper than DIY in 2026
• CNN, syndicated by ABC17: AI demand is raising prices for laptops and consoles (date not shown on the copy we read)
• PC Gamer (Australian edition): Black Friday PC gaming deals 2026 (updated 21 Oct 2026)
• Overclockers UK: Black Friday 2026 dates
• Club386: RTX 50 Super launch rumor and Notebookcheck: RTX 50 Super reported for CES 2027 (Jun 2026)