Paradox Customs, a boutique system builder based in Arizona, now offers customers the option to purchase prebuilt gaming PCs without memory installed. The company updated its online configurator and announced this change on its official X account . This option allows buyers to reduce immediate system costs or use memory kits they already own, helping them avoid additional expenses as memory shortages have driven prices up significantly. This change comes amid a severe shortage in the DRAM market, where DDR5 prices have risen sharply since early 2024, and certain high-performance modules are experiencing shipment delays of several weeks. For example, gamers are now expected to pay around $400 for 32 GB of DDR5 memory , which constitutes a significant portion of the total system cost.

The unusual choice now departs from the normal model in which system integrators select and validate every component to guarantee compatibility and simplify after-sales support. Purchasing memory modules in bulk have typically provided builders with stable margins and purchasing leverage that smooth short-term market swings. However, as the shortage is pricing out system integrators from accessing cheaper RAM, companies are looking to place the responsibility for sourcing RAM on the end use. Now system integrators like Paradox creates a product that sits between a fully supported turnkey machine and a do-it-yourself kit. This approach reduces the company's exposure to volatile inventory but also blurs the boundary between custom-builds and finished systems.