The top story today for PC builders is the escalating “RAM Crisis,” which has reached a tipping point where experts are now advising enthusiasts to buy pre-built systems rather than building their own to save money.
Key Developments for Today
- The RAM Apocalypse: DDR5 memory prices have surged, with some kits now costing nearly a third of the price of a mid-range gaming PC. This has triggered a “hoarding” phase for older, slower DDR4 RAM, subsequently driving up the cost of older platforms like AMD’s AM4.
- GPU Strategy Shifts: To counter the high cost of new components, builders are increasingly repurposing old GPUs (like the RTX 3060 Ti) for specialized tasks such as home AI chatbots or media transcoding.
- Intel “Nova Lake” Leaks: Major specifications for Intel’s next-generation B960 and Z970 platforms have leaked, featuring an all-new chipset category and up to 48 PCIe lanes.
- NVIDIA 50-Series Troubles: Reports indicate that NVIDIA is investigating widespread black screen and BSOD issues affecting the new RTX 50-series cards, with a driver fix currently in development. – Gizmodo +4