The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices
Consumer SSD prices have experienced dramatic increases since late 2025, with many drives now costing double or triple their December prices. The WD Black SN850X 2TB, which cost $173 in 2024, now retails for $649—nearly four times its original price. The Samsung 990 Pro 4TB has similarly jumped from approximately $320 to nearly $1,000. Even external storage solutions have been hit hard, with SanDisk SSDs at the Apple Store experiencing a 200 percent price hike as of March 2026.
The primary cause is a semiconductor supply shortage tied to surging AI computing demand. As manufacturers prioritize production of memory chips for AI infrastructure, capacity for consumer storage components has been constrained. The shortage affects not just SSDs but also mechanical hard drives, which are similarly experiencing price increases.
The situation presents a significant challenge for PC gamers and general consumers planning hardware upgrades. Storage, once a relatively stable component cost, has become a major budget consideration for system builds. This disruption highlights how AI infrastructure demand is cascading through the broader semiconductor supply chain, affecting consumer hardware availability and pricing across the industry.