If you've shopped for a graphics card or a RAM kit lately, you've probably done a double take at the price. You're not imagining it. PC parts, especially GPUs and DDR5 memory, cost a lot more in 2026 than they did at launch, and the prices keep changing week to week.

We get a lot of calls and messages about this, so here's a straight answer on what's going on, why we stopped taking pre-orders on individual parts, and what we think is the smartest way to buy a gaming PC right now.

What happened to prices?

The short version is AI. The companies building AI data centers are buying huge amounts of memory, and the handful of manufacturers that make memory chips are selling to them first. That leaves less supply for everyone else, including the RAM in your PC and the video memory on your graphics card.

Here's what that looks like in real numbers. These are the lowest US prices tracked by Tom's Hardware in mid-September 2026, next to the original launch price (MSRP):

Memory is even worse. A 32GB DDR5-6000 kit that used to sell for around $72 at its cheapest is now about $409. A 64GB kit that once hit about $159 is now about $889.

Why we stopped taking pre-orders on parts

Some of our part listings were still showing prices from when those parts first came out, and the site let people order them even when we had none in stock. A lot of you reached out asking how long a pre-order would take.

The honest answer is that we couldn't promise one. We can't get most of these parts anywhere close to launch price anymore, and we're not going to take your money for something we can't deliver on time or at the price you paid.

So from now on, individual parts only sell when we actually have them on the shelf. If a part shows "Sold out," it really is sold out. Nothing gets charged for stock we don't have.

The better way to buy right now

1. Get a custom build quote. When you ask us for a custom PC, we price every part at what it costs today, not what it cost months ago. You get a real number for a real build, and we tell you up front if something is hard to get and suggest an alternative that performs just as well.

2. Look at our in-stock prebuilts. Our prebuilt systems are built from parts we already have, and we update their prices regularly to match the market. What you see is what ships.

3. Bring your own parts. Already found a good deal on a GPU or a RAM kit? Our Bring Your Own Hardware service lets you supply the parts while we handle the build, cable management and testing.

A few buying tips for 2026

• Don't overbuy RAM. For gaming, 32GB is still the sweet spot. 64GB mostly makes sense for heavy content creation or local AI work, and right now it costs more than double.
• Look at the whole system, not just the GPU. A well-balanced build with a mid-range card often beats a top-end card paired with cheaper parts everywhere else.
• Be wary of "too good to be true" listings. If a card is way below every tracked price, it's often out of stock, a pre-order with no date, or a scam.

Questions?

We're a local custom PC shop in West Covina, CA. If you're not sure what to buy, or you want a quote on a build at today's prices, start a custom build or get in touch. We'll give you a straight answer.

Prices in this post are the lowest US street prices tracked by Tom's Hardware as of September 14, 2026, and can change quickly.