The start of 2026 brought a significant reputational crisis for Corsair, igniting a fierce backlash among PC hardware enthusiasts.
The controversy was sparked by a Reddit thread detailing how a $3,499 order for a gaming PC was abruptly canceled, only for the same configuration to resurface shortly after with a $4,299 price tag. This $800 hike coincided with “RAMageddon”—a period of skyrocketing memory prices driven by insatiable demand from AI data centers. Skeptical users accused the manufacturer of intentionally voiding locked-in prices to capitalize on the market surge.
Corsair was quick to issue a formal clarification. The company maintained that the cancellations were triggered by a malfunction in its automated anti-fraud system, which flagged legitimate transactions as suspicious. Regarding the price adjustment, Corsair stated it was simply the result of holiday promotions concluding on January 1st.
“On January 1, a memory kit that was actually out of stock—the DOMINATOR TITANIUM RGB 48GB (2x24GB) DDR5 6400MT/s CL36—was erroneously listed as available on our webstore. The product briefly appeared for pre-order despite a complete lack of inventory.”
According to official statements, all orders containing this specific item placed on New Year’s Day were voided, and full refunds were issued. To appease disgruntled customers, Corsair promised to distribute discount vouchers specifically for DRAM upgrades.
However, the issue appeared more systemic than a single error. A wave of reports soon followed from users whose DRAM orders were canceled under the vague guise of “unforeseen circumstances.” These justifications did little to satisfy the community. Corsair’s offer of a 15% discount as compensation was widely seen as inadequate, leading to the creation of the #DontBuyFromCorsair boycott group on Reddit. This incident serves as a stark example of the volatility and tension currently gripping the 2026 hardware market.
Source: iXBT.games