DDR5 memory and SSDs sit on retail shelves as 128GB memory kit prices hit $4,200

The current memory and storage crisis affecting the consumer technology industry has seen the prices for things like DDR5 memory kits and SSD storage steadily and even exponentially increase in recent months. Naturally, it's affected how everyday consumers, PC gamers, and enthusiasts are approaching upgrades and new builds, adjusting budgets and hardware options to adapt to the situation.

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For those living in the US, Micro Center is one of the best-known retailers of PC hardware, with all major components in stock at large retail stores across the country. As the current DRAM and flash memory (storage) crisis is born from the AI industry and data centers buying up all stock and manufacturing capacity shifting to more advanced technologies like high-bandwidth memory (HBM), you'd think there would be mass shortages everywhere, with the limited available stock being sold at inflated prices.

Although anecdotal, a new post in the PCMasterRace thread on Reddit from Hell-Diver 7 shows that at least one Micro Center appears to be fully stocked with cabinets, shelves, and rows of DDR5 memory kits and SSDs on hand. Unfortunately, with this hardware readily available for purchase, prices are 200+ percent higher than before the current mess.

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On the storage front, we see Samsung 9100 Pro PCIe Gen5 SSDs priced at $679.99 USD for 2TB and a whopping $2,719.99 USD for 8TB. Likewise, the Sandisk WD_Black SN8100 2TB SSD has a sticker price of $690.99 USD, while the 4TB model has a sticker price of $1,272.99 USD. On the plus side, the 4TB model is listed as being "on sale" for $699.99 USD, a "saving" of $573.

When it comes to memory, the images show multiple rows of various G.SKILL DDR5 memory in stock. The price tag for Corsair's Vengeance RGB 128GB DDR5-6400 memory kit is listed at $4,199.99 USD. A staggering amount, but also indicative of how unattainable large capacity DDR5 memory kits, like 128GB, have become in recent months. The good news is that the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-6400 memory kit is currently on sale at Amazon for $399.99.

Although anecdotal and only indicative of a single retail outlet, the images paint a picture of PC enthusiasts and gamers taking a stand against obscenely high prices.