RAM shopping used to be simple: grab 16GB and move on with your life. That advice has aged badly as games, browsers, creative tools and AI workloads use more memory. In 2026, 16GB still suits light use, 32GB is the sensible target for most people and 64GB makes sense for heavier work. This guide explains which capacity fits your workload without pushing you to spend more than necessary.

RAM prices have climbed sharply after manufacturers cut DRAM output and AI infrastructure absorbed high-margin memory capacity. Consumer DDR5 now competes with HBM and server RDIMMs for the same limited production resources. DDR4 is not a guaranteed escape because its production is winding down too. This guide explains what is driving the cost, how long the shortage may last and what buyers can do now.

DDR5 roughly doubles DDR4's bandwidth, but that does not make every DDR4 system obsolete. Good DDR4 still holds its own in gaming and everyday work, while DDR5 pulls ahead in bandwidth-heavy jobs. Upgrading also means checking CPU and motherboard compatibility, not just buying new memory. This guide compares the numbers, costs and workloads that decide whether the switch makes sense.