Instead, a new hardware crisis has emerged, and this time it’s targeting one of the most essential components of any PC build: DRAM. 

From $120 to $400 Overnight 

Back in the summer of 2025, a 32GB kit of performance DDR5 could easily be found in the low $100 range. Today, those same kits routinely list for $400 or more. G.Skill’s Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 (2×16GB) — $124.99 just a few months ago — is now $389.99. Corsair’s similarly spec’d Vengeance DDR5 kit jumped from $134.99 in September to $427.99 by December. 

This isn’t a mild correction or a generational shift. It’s a full-blown price shock.

A Market Controlled by Three Companies 

One reason the spike is so dramatic: the DRAM industry is more consolidated than ever. Just three manufacturers — Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron — control the majority of the global DRAM market. SK Hynix leads, followed by Samsung and Micron. No other competitor cracks even 5 percent after the top 3. 

With so few players, any major demand shift creates a global ripple effect. And in 2025, that shift has a very familiar name: AI. 

AI Is Consuming the World’s Memory Supply 

Samsung and SK Hynix, already the two largest DRAM manufacturers on the planet, have reportedly committed nearly 40 percent of the world’s entire memory output to a single customer — OpenAI. As part of the company’s massive Stargate infrastructure project, the Korean giants may end up supplying as many as 900,000 DRAM wafers per month, effectively redirecting a staggering portion of global memory production into AI data centers rather than consumer hardware. 

This unprecedented demand isn’t just an increase — it’s a redirection of the supply pipeline itself. And when hyperscale AI companies buy memory by the wafer, consumer markets are left fighting for whatever remains. 

The NAND Problem: SSD Prices Are Rising Too 

The pain doesn’t stop with DRAM. SSDs, built primarily on NAND flash rather than DRAM, are also seeing upward pressure. The same trio — Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron — dominate NAND production and are making the same strategic choice: shift output toward AI storage arrays instead of consumer drives. DRAM is tightening, NAND is tightening, and wafer capacity is being consumed faster than new fabs can come online. 

No ASIC Rescue This Time 

During the GPU mining crisis, ASICs eventually took over crypto workloads, easing pressure on consumer GPUs. But no such relief valve exists in the memory world. There is no alternative to DRAM for AI workloads, and no specialized hardware stepping in to free up supply. 

This shortage isn’t self-correcting — at least not quickly.

A New Era of PC Building Fatigue 

For gamers and PC builders, this marks the third major hardware disruption in under a decade. First GPUs, then CPUs and motherboards during the pandemic, and now memory — a component so foundational that every system, from a $600 budget build to a $5,000 workstation, depends on it. 

And with AI demand continuing to surge, there’s no clear timeline for when prices will normalize. 

For now, PC builders may have their pick of GPUs again, but the rest of the system is suddenly more expensive than ever. In the ongoing arms race between AI and consumer computing, it appears that AI has once again taken the lead — and the RAM. 

Sources: Rhino Bitcoin, The Verge

The post PC Gamers Survive the GPU Crisis… Only to Face a New One: DRAM  appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

I’ve been using the Monokei Standard Jujutsu Kaisen Megumi Mechanical Keyboard for a couple of years, and it has been one of my favorite keyboards.

The aesthetic captures Megumi’s color palette, and the Jujutsu Kaisen logo can be seen on the front side to the left. It comes with a couple of keycaps, and you can change them using the keycap puller. You can also use other keycaps to really customize your experience. From the sturdy build to its smaller, tenkeyless size, my use with it has been consistently wonderful.

Before using this keyboard, I would always use ones with the number pad. It made things easier when you want to input numbers. (And some games use it for emotes, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.) With the Monokei Standard Keyboard, I had to condition myself to not rely on it. It turned out to be the better option for working and playing video games. With more space on my desk, I have more room to move my mouse while also allowing my arms to rest at a more natural position.

It is compatible with Bluetooth BLE 5.1 and can have a wired connection via the USB-C to USB-C. I always plug my keyboard for the most part, so I can’t comment on the actual battery life. (It’s advertised to last 30 days for 8 hours of use each day.) However, I enjoy being able to unplug it and still be able to use it around the room, whether I’m streaming or conducting Zoom voice calls.

I have been using this for a couple years now, and it is still working, whether I’m editing on Adobe Photoshop or playing games such as Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, Baldur’s Gate 3, Phasmophobia, etc.

As of this writing, the keyboard costs $92 each, which is half the price of its retail price. You can choose between different types of switches when purchasing such as MX Red, MX Brown, or MX Silent Red switches.

The World of Jujutsu Kaisen

Fans are eagerly awaiting the third season of the anime as it enters the Culling Game Arc. Before that, U.S. fans can watch a compilation film in theaters of the “Hidden Inventory / Premature death” story arc on July 16 and 17.

If you’re going to Anime Expo this weekend, check out the Jujutsu Kaisen panel on Sunday, July 6. TOHO Animation is bringing special guests Junya Enoki (Japanese voice of Yuji Itadori) and Megumi Ogata (Japanese voice of Yuta Okkotsu) as they celebrate the fandom. Let’s hope they announce updates for season 3 that day.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Monokei Keyboard Is a Must-Have for Anime Fans and Gamers appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The Wacom Pro Pen 3 is described as having responsive, precise pen strokes due to the enhanced sampling rate and pressure sensitivity. This would allow artists to have more fluid lines that resemble movements.

The Wacom Pro Pen 3 Wood Grip is an optional accessory that features a textured finish, which emulates a more organic feel. With other accessories, users can customize different types of grip thickness, weight balance, and button layout.

The display is available in sizes 16” (2560 x 1600 resolution) and 23.8” (2560 x 1440 resolution), with models that include Pen-only and a Pen & Touch (23.8″ only). By allowing the artist to draw right onto the display, it shortens the gap between the pen tip and the cursor. It features an anti-glare etched glass to reduce reflection from lights and the sun and to minimize eye fatigue.

Both models are more compact than the previous generation, with the Cintiq 24 measuring almost half the thickness of the previous 22″ model at 21mm. It also has a fanless design for quiet sessions and users can work on longer hours without worrying about overheating.

To make the Cintiq 24 more customizable, there’s the adjustable stand that allows you to view it an different angles. The Cintiq 16 has fold-out legs and is compatible with the optional stand, which is sold separately. If you want to use third-party monitor arms, both models are VESA-compatible (75 x 75 mm).

As for the ports, they are on the back and support USB-C connection, with the 16″ model also supporting a single-cable setup with power delivery. HDMI and USB-A ports are other options for both models.

Creative software like the Clip Studio Paint EX and MASV are available with time-limited lincenses for both models.

“Creativity isn’t about limits—it’s about diving into the extraordinary,” said Koji Yano, Senior Vice President at Wacom. “The new Cintiq line is for creators who refuse to settle. It’s not just a tool—it’s the spark that turns ‘what if’ into ‘what’s next.’”

The new line of Wacom Cintiq pen displays will be available in Summer 2025. For more information, visit  https://www.wacom.com/products/wacom-cintiq.

The post Wacom Reveals New Wacom Cintiq Pen Displays: Cintiq 16, Cintiq 24 and Cintiq 24 Touch appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The unit I received didn’t come with a Type A or B plug, so I had to get an adapter to get it to work. However, the website does offer different plug type including EU, US, and UK.

Audio

The sound of the Homatics Mini Bar does its job as a convenient smart system in the entry level. Since it only has 5.1 audio, don’t expect a really immersive Dolby Atmos experience. You’ll be able to tell when it’s using Dolby Atmos when the text scrolls on the front. For its size, it does pack all the 5.1 speakers into the sound bar and tires its best, but if you want a better 5.1 surround sound or Dolby Atmos experience, you’re better off with other systems that have separate speakers.

We tested the audio out by first watching Dune: Part Two on HBO Max. The dialogue is clear, and the highs and mids were good; for example, the sound of the Fremen as they echo to each other in the desert valley. Next up, we tested out The Batman, and the dialogue was also clear. What about the bass? It’s nothing to write home about due to its small a size.

Video

We didn’t get to do much testing with the video quality, but we did test out Dune: Part Two and The Batman in Dolby Vision. The picture was detailed and the colors were vivid.

There are no passthrough inputs, so don’t expect to plug your Blu-ray players or consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox One Series X/S.

Final Reaction

As an entry level surround sound mini bar, it’s great for those who don’t want to break the bank and want something convenient and compact for a guest room or a spare room. However, it leaves a lot to be desired for audiophiles.

For more info, please visit the Homatics MiniBar page.

A unit was provided by the company for review purposes.

The post Homatics MiniBar, a 4K Media Player with 5.1 Surround Sound appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

“My idea for this, like I’ve already said, this is intended to be a very Renfair style,” JayzTwoCents said in a recent YouTube video. “What I mean by that, it’s meant to be able to go there, maybe buy some stuff, listen to some music, get some food. But also if you’re not there to buy anything, but you just want to experience a community, like a bunch of tech enthusiasts in one spot, kind of enjoying positivity rather than all the negative **** going around. That’s the idea with that.”

There’s also a handy guide for those attending, which you can check out here. https://ibuypower.notion.site/SOCALTECH-FAIR-2025-1d745451f18a8001b8c1e19f70c0b572

Here are the SoCalTech Fair experiences to check out:

· “Tower of Power” motherboard stacking competition presented by Linus Media Group

· PC Speed Building Challenge Presented by Intel

· RaceJayzCar! Sim Rig Challenge Presented by GTR Sim

· Partner Experiences, including:

• Pulsar Gaming Gears’ “Boomer or Bust” gaming reaction time challenge
• #AMDCares Trade-In Program, where attendees can trade in ANY CPU in ANY Condition to receive a free AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and ASUS B650 Motherboard (while supplies last)
• Hall of Tech x HYTE’s “Yassification Station”, where attendees can learn how to create and learn about decorating PC builds with various themes to choose from on-site

Panels, presentations, and meet & greet sessions include JayzTwoCents, Austin Evans and BitWit. There will be free-play sim-racing game stations and PC stations to check out the latest video games.

Discounted sales from iBUYPOWER and HYTE’s product inventory will be discounted, along with having event-exclusive merchandise.

SoCalTech Fair tickets are now available for $20 for single-day passes on Eventbrite at https://ibp.gg/SoCalTechFair. The location will be held at 13164 East Temple Avenue, City of Industry, CA 91746.

The post JayzTwoCents & iBUYPOWER Bringing Large Tech Yard Sale to SoCalTech Fair appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Similar to the Y60 case collaboration, HYTE’s Persona 3 Reload Y70 Case features the chassis’ glass panels with the main cast and the in-game Tartarus setting. The metal panel includes in-game elements, featuring a “Dark Hour” clock painted on its rear panel. It comes with a metal plate that references S.E.E.S., the main group in Persona 3 Reload.

To purchase the Y70 PC case, visit https://hyte.co/p3r25-pr.

“When we launched the original Persona 3 Reload collaboration with our Y60 case, we saw just how devoted the Persona fanbase was as demand for the Y60 collaboration cases was tremendous,” said King Perez, Marketing Executive Producer, Business Development at HYTE. “The ATLUS team are fantastic partners to work with, and we can’t wait for fans to check out our newest collaboration with the Persona 3 Reload Y70 case.”

HYTE’s parent company iBUYPOWER will release the RDY Y70 Persona 3 Reload Edition PC system in the first quarter. Two new desk pads with official artwork from Persona 3 Reload and Episode Aigis will be made available.

About the Persona 3 Reload Products

The Persona 3 Reload Y70 is now available at HYTE.com and select retailers. It is priced at an MSRP of $269.99.

The HYTE Persona 3 Reload and Episode Aigis – The Answer Desk Pads are also available for purchase at HYTE.com and select retailers. They are priced at an MSRP of $29.99.

Pricing and availability details for the RDY Y70 Personal 3 Reload Edition system will be available at a later date.

The post Persona 3 Reload Gets a 1-Year Anniversary Y70 PC Case and Desk Pads appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

HYTE is an official sponsor of Hololive’s 6th fes Super Expo 2025, and Hololive 4th Generation Keycap Set features Hololive’s talent making appearances at 6th fes on March 8-9, 2025, in Japan. Hololive Vtubers making appearances are Amane Kanata, Tsunomaki Watame, Tokoyami Towa, and Himemori Luna.

Each set includes 146 keycaps and is Cherry MX compatible. The keycaps are fully compatible with ANSI, JIS, and ISO keyboards.

The Hololive keycaps are available to pre-order at https://hyte.co/hologen4-pr and retail for $99.99.

Tsukumo, a Japanese retailer, will stock the Hololive 4th Generation Keycap Set for local residents.

Super Expo 2025 tickets are available at https://hololivesuperexpo2025.hololivepro.com/en/tickets.

The post Hololive and HYTE Team Up for 4th Gen Keycap Set Ahead of Super Expo 2025 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The Batman Bat-signal AirPods Case features Batman doing a heroic pose on top of the Bat-signal. Opening the back of the Bat-signal reveals the case inside a hidden compartment. The collectible measures approximately 195 x 157 x 143 mm. It uses a CR2032 3V cell battery to light up the Bat-signal.

Other products in the Batman x CASETiFY line include cases and products that honors the different versions of Batman in comics and film, including the versions made popular by Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck.

The post Batman Gets the CASETiFY Treatment with Bat-signal and iPhone Cases appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

AMD VCTA Y70 Strawberry Milk – Pricing: $1,749 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: HYTE Y70 – Strawberry Milk
Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU
Cooling: iBUYPOWER AW4 240MM ARGB Liquid Cooler
Motherboard: ASUS Prime B650M-A AX6 WIFI
Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5-5600MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4070 Super – 12GB
Power Supply (PSU): High Power 750 Watt – GEN 5
Storage: 1TB WD M.2 NVMe SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

Many of its RDY prebuilt gaming PCs are getting discounted from its starter-friendly computers to premium showcase builds. Additionally, iBUYPOWER has expanded its warranty, offering 3-year labor and 2-year parts for its support.

To get the discount, simply enter IBP25YR to receive the following discounts:

• $300 OFF RDY & Custom Desktops over $3999
• $200 OFF RDY & Custom Desktops over $2999
• $100 OFF RDY & Custom Desktops over $1999
• $50 OFF RDY & Custom Desktops over $999

Check out the highlighted iBUYPOWER PCs below:

RDY Scale 002 – Pricing: Was $1,199, Now $999 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: iBUYPOWER Scale ARGB Gaming Case
Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen 7 5700 CPU
Cooling: Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink
Motherboard: ASRock B550M-C R2.0 WiFi
Memory (RAM): 16GB DDR4-3200 RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4060 – 8GB
Power Supply (PSU): 600W 80 PLUS Gold PSU
Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

RDY Slate 8MP 003 – Pricing: Was $1,499, Now $1,249 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: iBUYPOWER Slate 8 Mesh Pro ARGB
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core i7-14700KF CPU
Cooling: RGB CPU Tower Air Cooler
Motherboard: ASUS Prime B760M-A AX6
Memory (RAM): 16GB DDR5-5200MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4060 Ti – 8GB
Power Supply (PSU): 750 Watt High Power PSU
Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

RDY Trace 7MP 010 – Pricing: Was $1,699, Now $1,449 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: HYTE Y70 RGB Gaming Case – Black
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core i9-14900KF CPU
Cooling: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI
Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5-6000MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4070 – 12GB
Power Supply (PSU): 850 Watt – High Power -80 PLUS Gold Certified PCIe GEN 5
Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

RDY Y60 005 – Pricing: Was $2,349, Now $1,899 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: HYTE Y60 RGB Gaming Case – Black
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core i9-14900KF CPU
Cooling: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System
Motherboard: ASUS PRIME Z790-V WiFi
Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5-6000MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER – 12GB
Power Supply (PSU): 750 Watt – High Power
Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

RDY Y70 001 – Pricing: Was $2,599, Now $1,999 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: HYTE Y70 RGB Gaming Case – Black
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core i9-14900KF CPU
Cooling: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI
Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5-6000MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER – 16GB
Power Supply (PSU): 850 Watt – High Power -80 PLUS Gold Certified PCIe GEN 5
Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

RDY Lancool 005 – Pricing: Was $2,799, Now $2,399 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: Lian Li Lancool 216 – Black
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core i9-14900KF CPU
Cooling: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI
Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5-6000MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER – 16GB
Power Supply (PSU): 850 Watt – High Power PSU
Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

RDY Y70 004 – Pricing: Was $3,649, Now $3.339 at iBUYPOWER.com

Specs:
Case: iBUYPOWER HYTE Y70 RGB Gaming Case – Black
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core i9-14900KF CPU
Cooling: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI
Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5-6000MHz RGB RAM
Video Card (GPU): GeForce RTX 4090 – 24GB
Power Supply (PSU): 1000 Watt – High Power PCIe GEN 5 PSU
Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD
Operating System (OS): Windows 11 Home

The post This Pink Valorant AMD Custom PC Is Part of iBUYPOWER 25th-Anniversary Sale appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Of all the premium large formats (PLF) available, Dolby Cinema is the highest average per screen box office. With Dolby’s new solution, it allows theatrical exhibitors to offer both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to their guests.

“At Dolby, our passion is creating immersive entertainment experiences, and we can’t wait to bring the transformative power of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to even more theaters around the world,” said Jed Harmsen, Head of Cinema and Group Entertainment at Dolby. “Coming off of Dolby Cinema’s strongest year at the box office, we’re thrilled to provide exhibitors this new offering, which will unlock significantly greater opportunities for moviegoers around the world to love movies more in Dolby at premium theaters.”

You can check out our Dolby Cinema experience of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny here.

There are over 600 theatrical films that have been released in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos including Dune: Part Two, Barbie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

The post Dolby Vision and Atmos Headed to More Theaters Worldwide appeared first on Nerd Reactor.