The cost of building a gaming PC has skyrocketed, leaving many gamers with limited options. The prices of essential components like RAM have increased exponentially, making it difficult for people to upgrade their systems without breaking the bank.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that major brands are prioritizing supply for AI data centers over consumer electronics. Micron, which owns Crucial, has announced that it will be discontinuing its consumer-facing brand, citing a shift in focus towards fulfilling the insatiable demand for memory from AI data centers.
This leaves gamers with only two viable options: subscription-based cloud gaming services or expensive hybrid PC consoles. Cloud gaming platforms like Xbox's Game Pass and Nvidia's GeForce Now are gaining popularity, but they still can't match the visual quality of native gaming on a high-end PC.
The price of these services is also increasing, with Xbox's Game Pass Ultimate subscription rising to $30 per month. Meanwhile, Nvidia's GeForce Now requires an additional $20 monthly fee to access more recent GPUs and 4K streaming.
While there are some cheaper alternatives available, such as Maingear's Apex Rush desktop PC, which offers a relatively affordable gaming experience, the cost of high-speed RAM is still prohibitive for many gamers. In fact, a 12-month Game Pass Ultimate subscription would only cover the cost of 32GB of high-speed RAM.
The situation is unlikely to improve in the short term, with major tech brands prioritizing supply for AI data centers over consumer electronics. As Jukan tweeted, "The situation worsened in Q4 due to increased demand from large data centers and hyperscalers driven by major cloud service providers' expansion plans."
In conclusion, the cost of building a gaming PC has become prohibitively expensive, leaving gamers with limited options. While subscription-based cloud gaming services and hybrid PC consoles are gaining popularity, they still can't match the visual quality of native gaming on a high-end PC. It's unclear when these prices will come down, but it's clear that something needs to change to make gaming more accessible to everyone.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that major brands are prioritizing supply for AI data centers over consumer electronics. Micron, which owns Crucial, has announced that it will be discontinuing its consumer-facing brand, citing a shift in focus towards fulfilling the insatiable demand for memory from AI data centers.
This leaves gamers with only two viable options: subscription-based cloud gaming services or expensive hybrid PC consoles. Cloud gaming platforms like Xbox's Game Pass and Nvidia's GeForce Now are gaining popularity, but they still can't match the visual quality of native gaming on a high-end PC.
The price of these services is also increasing, with Xbox's Game Pass Ultimate subscription rising to $30 per month. Meanwhile, Nvidia's GeForce Now requires an additional $20 monthly fee to access more recent GPUs and 4K streaming.
While there are some cheaper alternatives available, such as Maingear's Apex Rush desktop PC, which offers a relatively affordable gaming experience, the cost of high-speed RAM is still prohibitive for many gamers. In fact, a 12-month Game Pass Ultimate subscription would only cover the cost of 32GB of high-speed RAM.
The situation is unlikely to improve in the short term, with major tech brands prioritizing supply for AI data centers over consumer electronics. As Jukan tweeted, "The situation worsened in Q4 due to increased demand from large data centers and hyperscalers driven by major cloud service providers' expansion plans."
In conclusion, the cost of building a gaming PC has become prohibitively expensive, leaving gamers with limited options. While subscription-based cloud gaming services and hybrid PC consoles are gaining popularity, they still can't match the visual quality of native gaming on a high-end PC. It's unclear when these prices will come down, but it's clear that something needs to change to make gaming more accessible to everyone.
Like, I get it, AI data centers need all the RAM they can get, but come on! Gamers shouldn't be caught in the middle of this. It's just not fair that Micron is ditching its consumer brand to focus on AI stuff. That means we're stuck with these crazy prices for high-speed RAM.
. I mean, who can afford a top-of-the-line rig anymore? Even my own build from last year is already feeling outdated 
. And it's not just the PC itself, but also the cost of upgrading individual components like RAM - ouch 
! It's like major brands are prioritizing AI data centers over gamers 
.
. And don't even get me started on the subscription services - $30/month for Xbox's Game Pass Ultimate? That's just crazy! 
. The price hike is just ridiculous - who can afford a sick gaming rig anymore? 
.
. And yeah, I'm seeing that Game Pass Ultimate subscription price go up too... $30 a month is just not sustainable for most people 
Gaming PCs are getting so expensive it's like they're trying to rob us blind! I mean, who can afford a sick gaming rig with all the bells and whistles? Not many people, that's for sure. And now Micron is ditching its consumer brand? That's just great. It's all about AI data centers making bank while we gamers are left high and dry.
what's goin on with pc prices tho?! 
i know some ppl are movin to cloud gammin & subscribtion services but honestly its not the same as playin on ur own rig 
. and dont even get me started on them "cheaper" alternatives 
. can't we jus have affordable high-speed ram already?! 
and btw whats wrong with companies prioritizin ai data centers tho?! 
anywayz, hope they figger out a way 2 make pc prices more affordable soon! 
fave gaming brand is still gonna b 4ever nvidia 
! 32GB of high-speed RAM would take like 12 months of Game Pass Ultimate subscription to pay off 
Maybe someone will invent a more affordable, sustainable way to make high-speed RAM or GPU chips? A gaming PC enthusiast can dream, right? 
. The cost of building one has gone up so much, it's like they're charging per pixel. I'm not sure what's more surprising, the price hike or that Micron is ditching its consumer brand for AI data centers. I mean, who needs a gaming PC when you can have a fancy data center that's just going to make a lot of noise and burn electricity? 
. I'm all about a good layout and structure, but this whole situation is just a mess 
. The price surge is crazy and I feel like we're being left with no choice but to shell out big bucks for cloud gaming or expensive consoles. 32GB of high-speed RAM would barely cover a year's worth of Game Pass Ultimate subs, that's just insane 
... what about us gamers?! 
. Anyone else feeling the pinch? 
I've been eyeing a new rig for ages and now it's like they're pricing me out 
. This makes me think about the importance of fairness and accessibility in our pursuit of tech greatness. Can't we find a balance between innovation and affordability? 
Gamers need affordable options too! I'm still trying to figure out how I'm gonna upgrade my rig without bursting my wallet 