PC Prices Rise as Memory Costs Jump Up to 90% and Old Stock Runs Out
AI-focused production is squeezing consumer DRAM and NAND supply, pushing retailers to pass higher costs to buyers.
Overview
- Counterpoint Research reports DRAM, NAND, and HBM prices have surged 80%–90% versus Q4, setting new highs.
- Context says the UK’s average distributor price for consumer desktops rose to £565 in early 2026, with laptops barely up as legacy stock thins.
- Context warns of constrained configurations and emerging CPU availability issues that could intensify pricing pressure from Q2.
- Analysts note chipmakers are prioritizing HBM for AI datacenters, while new capacity such as Micron’s projects will take years to materially ease supply.
- Nikkei Asia reporting cited by The Register says HP and Dell are qualifying CXMT memory, as Omdia flags spillover effects including 11%–15% higher server CPU prices and sharply higher server memory costs, with smartphones also facing price increases.