If you were planning to build a high-end PC this month, you might want to sit down. As of January 2, 2026, the "Great RAM Crisis" has officially sent GPU prices into a tailspin. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, which launched with an already high MSRP of $1,999, is now frequently being listed by retailers for over $3,000, with some custom models hitting a staggering $5,000.
Why Is This Happening? The DDR7 & HBM Bottleneck
The price surge is a direct result of a global memory shortage that began in late 2025. Major manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix have pivoted their production lines away from consumer-grade RAM to focus almost exclusively on HBM3E and high-density DDR5 for AI data centers.
Memory Cost Ratio: Memory now accounts for over 80% of the total manufacturing cost of a GPU.
Production Cuts: Reports from mid-December 2025 suggest Nvidia is planning to cut production of the RTX 50-series (specifically the 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti) by 30–40% in the first half of 2026 to prioritize their limited GDDR7 supply for more profitable enterprise cards.
Micron's Exit: The crisis worsened when Micron effectively exited the consumer-brand market (shuttering its Crucial line) to focus on the high-margin AI industry.
RTX 5090 Market Snapshot (January 2026)
| Model | Launch MSRP | Current Retail (Newegg/B&H) | Availability |
| RTX 5090 Founders Edition | $1,999 | $3,695+ | Out of Stock / In-Store Only |
| ASUS ROG Astral OC | $3,079 | $4,299+ | Extremely Rare |
| MSI Suprim Liquid SOC | $2,539 | $3,850+ | Limited Stock |
| Zotac Amp Infinity | $2,499 | $3,400+ | Scalper Pricing Only |
The Domino Effect: Consoles and PC Gaming
The shortage isn't just a "PC Master Race" problem. The volatility of the memory market is already having far-reaching consequences:
Next-Gen Console Delays: Rumors are swirling that Sony and Microsoft have delayed their internal 2027/2028 release targets for the "PS6" and "Next Xbox" to avoid launching at a $1,000+ price point.
AMD Price Hikes: Not to be left out, AMD has reportedly begun monthly price increases for the Radeon RX 9000 series starting this week.
The $5,000 Milestone: Market analysts from Newsis and Insider Gaming predict that if memory contracts aren't stabilized by March, the RTX 5090 could officially hit a $5,000 floor price by the end of 2026.
Source: VideoCardz
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