The PC hardware industry is currently facing a serious challenge — the rising prices of DRAM memory and, to a lesser extent, SSD storage. In response to this situation, Rahul Tikoo, Senior Vice President at AMD, shared his view and advice regarding what many are calling a “RAM crisis.”
During a recent roundtable discussion, Tikoo downplayed the impact of the memory shortage on AMD’s overall business. He explained that while higher component prices are indeed a concern, users who rely on technology will continue purchasing what they need. However, he advised that buyers should now make more strategic decisions when balancing their budgets between CPUs and memory.
According to Tikoo, AMD’s wide range of processors — over 200 models — can help offset the rising costs of DDR5 memory. This includes both high-end chips and more affordable options that still offer solid performance.
The Comeback of the AM4 Platform
This approach makes sense when looking at AMD’s current catalog, which includes both traditional CPUs and those with AI capabilities. A large part of this strategy focuses on the AM4 platform, which supports DDR4 memory instead of the newer DDR5 used by AM5 motherboards. Since DDR4 is significantly cheaper, pairing it with older but still powerful Zen 3-based processors has become a smart way for many users to get great value for money.
However, this recommendation places AM5 users in a more difficult position. Because AM5 supports only DDR5 memory, those who have already upgraded must deal with the high cost of this new generation of RAM.
AMD’s message is clear — choosing Ryzen 5000 series processors and AM4 motherboards with DDR4 memory remains a practical and affordable alternative. This combination still delivers strong performance while allowing users to avoid the inflated prices of DDR5 modules.
The company expects that the current “memory crisis” will ease in the medium term. Until then, users looking for performance and value may find AMD’s older platforms to be the best choice.
