this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2026
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Steam data is hardly skewed towards a data center with a lot of RAM, and supports the idea of 16 GB being the default for most users, with a newly increased trend towards 32 GB (that is very likely going to be shattered and revert to 16 GB in 2026 given the current scenario).
Why would the average drop? People already have the RAM so wouldn't we just see it stagnate?
More people buying new computers, new computers have 16 GBs of RAM, average drops.
I just find it hard to imagine people will buy a worse computer instead of keeping the one they have, but I'll happily admit it if I turn out to be wrong.
RAM is only 1/3 of the most critical components.
If you have DDR4 on want to upgrade your CPU, you'll end up with a DDR5 MoBo, your old RAM will be useless.
Not necessarily, most people will be able to upgrade their CPU to a better model with the same socket. Sockets aren't updated every time a CPU is released, and most people won't be buying the top of the top even if they were, meaning there's room to grow as prices drop.
If you have DDR4 RAM, no modern* CPU will fit your MoBo.
* as in: from the last couple of years
Well the last couple of years is pretty restrictive. If you're upgrading every few years you'll probably just bite the bullet and pay for the RAM.
My last comment was basically saying you can upgrade to the top of the line CPU that fits your mobo, giving you an upgrade for not too much cash. Better than forking out for DDR5.
A two year old CPU with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM will be around two to four times faster than a five year old CPU with 32 GB of DDR4 RAM.
Maybe but hardly anyone had 32GB of RAM 5 years ago so that's unlikely to feed into the average. My original thought was that I don't think the average will go down, because people will keep their current hardware for longer. Maybe we will see mobos with modern sockets and DDR4 support if this drags on, but hopefully the bubble will burst by Christmas and we'll all be picking up refurbished DDR5 for pennies from the decommissioned data centres.
As old computers age out of gaming-worthiness and/or just die, new computers are built to replace them, and the high cost of memory may force some to get less RAM.
But wouldn't people just stick with their current PC instead of downgrade?
Especially because they very likely can get a better CPU with the same socket, and a better graphics card.
I find it hard to imagine a scenario where you would go to less RAM instead of keeping what you have.
What if your GPU or RAM dies?
I mean as long as your PC is still viable, sure. But at some point even a partial downgrade can be an upgrade in some ways.
Yeah but we are talking about a widespread drop in the average, which I'd think would be more influenced by people upgrading (or not) rather than gear dying.
Pre-builts and laptops are reverting to 16 GB as default, and those represent the vast majority of yearly PC hardware sales.
Among gamers?
I didn't even realise 32 was standard, I've really only seen 8 or 16 for normal consumer grade stuff.
I have a laptop with 32gb of ddr5 ram. It feels a bit slow on windows for work stuff.
On endeavour os (arch btw), it is blazingly fast