Memory Prices Surge as AMD and Intel Prepare Key GPU Updates for CES2026

Weekly PC hardware developments covering RAM pricing pressure, GPU software updates, and early signals ahead of CES2026.

Hardware by Shinji Okazaki on Dec 15, 2025

It's been hard to sum up a week of PC hardware news in the middle of December for a long time. A lot of people are thinking about the holidays and spending time with family. At the same time, the tech industry keeps going full speed ahead. CES is still planned for right after the end of the year, from January 6 to January 9, 2026.

Expectations for CES2026 remain low due to the ongoing focus on AI and a lack of global memory. There aren't many reports on hardware yet, but the most interesting one is that AMD's Ryzen 9800X3D update, likely to be 9850X3D, will have a slightly higher clock speed.

Memory Prices Surge, AMD and Intel Prepare Key GPU Updates for CES2026, NoobFeed

The Ongoing RAM Crisis and Memory Prices

The current RAM crisis, sometimes called Memoryocalypse2025, continues to affect PC builders. Over the last two months, the prices of DDR5 memory kits, even the cheapest ones, have risen significantly. The price of high-capacity packages like 256GB DDR5 is currently close to the MSRP of an RTX 5090, which is about $ 2,000. This has caused problems in building and upgrading new systems.

For now, the best thing to do is look for marketplaces where prices haven't really changed yet. DDR4 or DDR5 kits that still work but are priced lower than they should be are typically found in used systems, full PCs, and reconditioned gear. Several recent examples shared online demonstrate that people have bought whole systems for less than the current price of the installed memory alone.

These systems have 64GB DDR5-6000 memory, and some have 960GB LPDDR5X memory. The used market needs work and care, but as the industry advances toward 2026, it remains one of the few ways to get RAM at reasonable prices.

The launch of AMD FSR Redstone

Given the current component prices, people are still interested in software updates that boost performance. AMD released FSR Redstone, an update to its drivers that promises better performance but has many issues. Right now, FSR Redstone only works with Radeon9000-series GPUs, including the RX 9060 and RX 9070.

Early tests show that supported titles perform much better. When frame generation was enabled, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 ran at 60-90 fps. When upscaling was enabled, it ran at 50-60 fps. Latency remains a problem in frame generation, and outcomes vary by game. Updating Radeon drivers right now gives RX 9060 and RX 9070 owners noticeable performance boosts.

Intel Arc Battlemage G31 Shows Up Before Launch

After new information about the Battlemage G31 GPU came out, people are more interested in Intel's Arc GPU roadmap. G31 is likely to power Arc700-series cards, which will be called B770 and B750. These cards will be above ArcB580.

Intel's VTune Profiler page showed G31, confirming it was real. A shipping manifest that accompanies it says it has a 300W cooler, which exceeds the B580's 190W rating. The specs say there are 32Xe3 cores, 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, and a 256-bit memory bus. A recent tweet from Intel's gaming social team about the B770 adds to the reasons to expect an announcement at CES.

People are Interested in Windows AI Removal Tools

People are still having problems with Windows 11 AI integrations. The GitHub script "Remove Windows AI" lets you turn off several AI-related features. Some modifications occur on their own, while others require manual intervention. You can use the revert function to revert if needed. This utility lets users disable Windows Copilot or Recall without reinstalling Windows.

Zotac RTX 5060Ti Without Extra Power

Zotac made an RTX 5060Ti that doesn't have a standard external power connector. The card is designed for small systems and draws up to 180W. Zotac used unused PCIe x8 edge-connector pins to deliver 19V power rather than relying solely on PCIe slot power. The design requires a motherboard that supports it, and it can't be used in standard PCIe slots; therefore, it can only be used on systems that support it.

Memory Prices Surge, AMD and Intel Prepare Key GPU Updates for CES2026, NoobFeed

More Capacity Announced: 12V2x6 Power Cables

There are still worries about the 12V2x6 power connector. Segotep has released the final specs for their Titan Load EX power cable, which has a 14A design and can handle 1080W.

The cable has gold-plated connectors that fit more tightly, increasing contact area and current Capacity. This fixes the restrictions on the cable side; however, load balancing on the GPU side remains a problem. The release date is set for January 2026.

Final Thoughts

PC hardware news keeps coming out, even amid supply issues and market pressure. Memory prices are still high, although performance enhancements that come from software help a little. As CES2026 gets closer, the upcoming GPU releases from Intel and AMD continue to get a lot of attention.

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