In a few months, the cost of 32GB DDR5 memory for business PCs has more than doubled, rising from about $150 to nearly $400 in some areas. A jump of more than 160%.

Major manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and HP are warning of Rising Equipment Prices between 15% and 30% as DRAM costs keep increasing. Memory now makes up nearly twice the share of a PC’s total cost compared to last year.

Enterprises can protect budgets by extending device lifecycles through reuse, redeployment, targeted upgrades, and data-led lifecycle planning instead of defaulting to new purchases.

Key Takeaways

• PC, laptop, and DDR5 memory prices are rising sharply due to supply shortages and AI-driven demand.
• Reusing, redeploying, and upgrading existing devices can significantly reduce overall IT upgrade costs.
• Data-led lifecycle planning helps organizations avoid rushed and expensive hardware purchasing decisions.
• Smarter asset management minimizes e-waste while maximizing the long-term value of IT investments.

A notice obtained by industry sources shows Lenovo warning customers that all current quotations and prices will expire on January 1, 2026, citing two key factors:

• An intensifying memory shortage
• The rapid integration of AI technologies

At the same time, many companies face tight budgets but cannot put off upgrading or expanding their IT infrastructure.

The Rising Cost of IT Equipment

Recent reports confirm what IT teams are feeling daily: buying new devices is more expensive than before.

• Laptop and desktop prices keep rising because of supply shortages and factory delays. Entry-level desktops are up 15% to 18%. High-end systems have increased by 10% to 15%.
• DDR5 memory, key to modern performance, is in short supply. Prices for 32GB DDR5-6000 kits jumped from 140€ to 265€ (+89%) between September and November 2025, with some kits surging up to 130-170% year-over-year due to AI-driven demand.
• Supply chain disruptions, including DRAM shortages persisting into 2026, continue to add delays and unpredictability, with memory costs soaring 70% overall.

These factors mean that purchasing new equipment now carries a higher upfront cost and often longer wait times than in previous cycles.

Why Enterprises Should Consider Smarter Reuse

Extending device life is no longer just a sustainability talking point; it is becoming a core financial strategy.

• Analysts emphasize that the initial purchase price is a relatively small slice of total cost of ownership (TCO), which also includes support, patching, repairs, and downtime; using metrics like Equivalent Annual Cost (EAC) helps quantify whether keeping a device longer truly saves money. 
• Treating endpoints as assets to optimize rather than commodities to replace aligns lifecycle decisions with four key goals Gartner highlights in device lifecycle management: reliability, suitability, security, and sustainability.
• Reallocation within the organization often delivers immediate savings. Devices that are underutilized in one department can be redeployed to users whose performance needs have outgrown older hardware, reducing net‑new purchases in the current budget cycle.
• Targeted component upgrades, such as adding RAM, moving to SSDs, or expanding storage, can deliver a significant performance uplift and extend device life by one to three years, especially when combined with solid OS and firmware management.

Data Led Lifecycle Planning

A data-driven refresh strategy helps IT teams avoid rushed, costly purchases.

By using asset intelligence and lifecycle analytics, you can sort devices into clearly defined groups:

• Those needing immediate replacement
• Those ready for targeted upgrades
• Those fit for redeployment

This ensures the right device supports each role. It boosts return on investment and cuts waste.

It also spreads spending over multiple quarters, avoiding large purchases at peak prices and long lead times.

Unduit’s lifecycle management gives you clear insight into device age, specs, performance, and use across your estate. This replaces blunt, arbitrary refresh cycles with decisions based on real data.

Accurate inventory and condition data let you focus new buys on business critical roles while relying on redeployment and upgrades elsewhere.

Environmental and Strategic Benefits

Financial resilience and sustainability go hand in hand.

• Extending device lifecycles through refurbishment, redeployment, and upgrading parts reduces electronic waste. This supports your ESG and CSR goals.
• It also shows employees and customers your commitment to responsible technology use not just cutting costs.
• Reducing new device purchases during volatile pricing lowers exposure to supply chain risks and unexpected capital expenses.

This creates steadier refresh cycles when market conditions normalize and better pricing opportunities emerge.

Unduit’s Role in Smarter IT Asset Management

At Unduit, we partner with IT teams to simplify hardware lifecycle management:

• Audit and assess all existing devices to understand what you have and what is needed.
• Redeploy and repurpose devices wherever possible, squeezing maximum value out of your investments.
• Guide upgrade decisions with accurate, data-backed insights so you only invest where it truly matters.

For example, one of our clients recently reduced their hardware refresh costs by 30% simply by redeploying devices before making new purchases

With PC prices on the rise, the smartest strategy is to reuse and redeploy wherever you can. This saves money, reduces stress, and maximizes your IT investments.

Reach out to Unduit to get the most from the devices you already have before buying new ones.