It's 2025, and RAM prices are skyrocketing. As a PC assembler aiming to attract buyers, you realize the inflated costs will deter sales. The solution? Offer desktop systems stripped of memory modules.
This ushers in the age of BYOR—Bring Your Own RAM—a practice pioneered by established custom PC specialist Maingear. According to the firm:
You might have observed that RAM costs have reached unprecedented levels. We're disappointed by this too. The surge in AI development has led major tech firms to snap up vast quantities of memory for their server farms. Consequently, leading producers are directing resources toward these lucrative enterprise clients, resulting in tight supplies and sharp price hikes for everyday devices such as desktops, notebooks, and mobile phones.
⚠️ Numerous DDR5 packages are experiencing 100% to over 400% markups ⚠️
To maintain our commitment to premium MAINGEAR machines and provide equitable pricing for fresh assemblies amid these expenses, we're experimenting with an innovative approach…
Got spare RAM? Spotted an excellent module set or bargain deal? Submit your purchase and forward the memory to us; we'll integrate it into your custom MAINGEAR setup, validate its operation, and optimize for speed and stability.
For those out of touch with recent PC component updates, this initiative fits the current landscape. Back in early October, a 64GB DDR5-6000 package averaged just above $200. That figure has since surged to $800, per data from PCPartPicker's monitoring tool. (Indeed.)
Maingear's method serves as a helpful alternative for dedicated hobbyists. Yet it carries a drawback: High-value items like RAM face theft risks during transit. Given the premium prices today, mailing modules to Maingear for assembly and adjustment could prove hazardous. An alternative might involve supplying guidelines for optimal settings (like voltages and latencies) tailored to specific kits, allowing users to handle tweaks themselves in exchange for secure delivery.
One challenge with BYOR setups assumes buyers possess DDR5 modules, perhaps from a prior assembly or snagged at lower rates previously. Those transitioning from DDR4 platforms will find sourcing budget-friendly DDR5 largely dependent on luck.
On the same day Maingear unveiled its BYOR option, the PCWorld team foresaw this development during the concluding installment of The Full Nerd podcast this year. The forecast extended beyond DDR5 machines to potentially include updated systems using legacy components that support DDR4. With abundant DDR4 stock circulating, vendors might pivot to earlier tech to fulfill demands for cost-effective enhancements.
Following extended periods of significant advances in speed and power savings, a single term captures this possible shift best.
Alaina Yee, with 14 years in tech and gaming reporting, contributes to PCWorld across diverse subjects. Joining in 2016, her articles have spanned processors, operating systems, assembly guides, browsers, single-board computers, and beyond—plus deal scouting duties (#slickdeals). Her current emphasis lies in cybersecurity, guiding users on digital protection strategies. Past contributions include PC Gamer, IGN, Maximum PC, and Official Xbox Magazine.