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Costco Pulls RAM From PCs Amid Price Crisis
29 Jan
Summary
- Costco removed RAM from display PCs due to rising prices.
- Thieves are stealing RAM and GPUs from retail display models.
- DDR5 RAM prices increased by 172%, impacting DDR4 prices.
Retailers, including Costco, are now removing RAM from their display PCs as a security measure against escalating component theft. This trend mirrors actions taken during the pandemic-induced graphics card shortage.
Recent discoveries show that while GPUs remain in some display units, RAM has been removed from others. This is a direct response to incidents where thieves have stolen these high-value parts from store models, as evidenced by security footage.
The surge in component prices is the primary driver. For instance, a 32GB kit of Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM, previously $117 in October, now costs $439. Similarly, graphics card prices have significantly increased.
This price hike is particularly acute for DDR5 RAM, which has climbed over 172%. Consequently, slower, last-generation DDR4 memory has also seen a substantial price increase. The situation is expected to worsen before improving, potentially leading to display tables showing only placards instead of actual systems.
