The Asgard 256 GB DDR5 RAM kit is now official, and it’s already breaking records just not the kind gamers were hoping for. Launched in China at a staggering price of 17,000 Yuan (~$2,400), this high-capacity memory kit now costs more than Nvidia’s yet-to-be-released RTX 5090 GPU. It’s a striking sign of how wild the current DRAM market has become.
Asgard 256 GB DDR5 RAM kit blends high specs with high cost
The flagship release is the Valkyrie II Racing Car Limited Edition, which packs four 64 GB DDR5-6000 modules. Each one is built using 4 GB M-die ICs from SK Hynix and mounted on a 10-layer PCB. That makes it one of the most premium DDR5 kits available at least on paper.
For comparison, even the best high-end GPUs like the RTX 5090 are expected to cost less at launch than this kit. And yet, in today’s memory-starved market, the pricing doesn’t even seem all that out of place.
DRAM supply crisis continues to push prices skyward
Gamers looking to build a new rig right now are running into an entirely different kind of bottleneck not GPUs, but RAM. AI firms have soaked up nearly all available DRAM supply worldwide, driving up prices with no relief in sight. Some analysts predict that RAM won’t return to reasonable price levels until 2028.
A slightly cheaper alternative from Asgard
For those unwilling to spend GPU money on memory, Asgard also revealed a second option: the Thor Black Gold Limited Edition. This 192 GB kit includes four 48 GB DDR5-6000 modules, again using SK Hynix M-die ICs and a 10-layer PCB. It sells for a still-hefty but far more digestible $1,125.
Key specs from Asgard’s new RAM kits:
- 256 GB Valkyrie II Kit: 4×64 GB DDR5-6000, SK Hynix 4 GB M-die, 10-layer PCB
- 192 GB Thor Kit: 4×48 GB DDR5-6000, SK Hynix 3 GB M-die, 10-layer PCB
- Pricing: $2,400 for 256 GB / $1,125 for 192 GB
- Region: China-exclusive launch
Don’t expect global availability anytime soon
Tempted buyers outside China might be out of luck. Asgard has not launched its products internationally, and there’s no word on when or if that will change. For US buyers, the G.Skill Trident Z5 32 GB DDR5-6000 kit remains a more accessible option currently listed at around $360 on Amazon.
RAM just became the new luxury item
In a twist no one saw coming, memory kits are now rivaling GPUs for top-dollar status. Until supply chains settle and AI stops hogging every chip in sight expect RAM to remain in the “luxury component” category for the foreseeable future.
