DDR5 Price Spike: Manufacturers have increased DDR5 prices by up to 500% in some cases, causing a rush for cheaper, older DDR4 RAM, which has subsequently driven up prices for older AM4 platforms.
The “$750 Challenge”: With component prices rising, finding value is difficult, but budget-conscious builders are still targeting around $750 for 100+ FPS in modern titles.
Hardware Shortages: Major retailers are struggling with inventory, with some reports indicating that large electronics stores in Japan are pleading with customers to sell back old PC gear.
GPU Market Shift: While some GPU prices (like the RTX 5070 and Ryzen 9000 series) have shown minor drops, the overall market remains volatile. The RX 970 XT is emerging as a strong, cost-effective alternative to Nvidia options.
Component Security: Corsair is revamping packaging for its Vengeance DDR5 memory to combat increasing theft and scamming.