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Server and PC Prices Set to Rise as AI Memory Crunch Deepens

Surging data‑center demand for high‑margin DRAM is siphoning supply from consumer channels, prompting suppliers to reallocate capacity and prepare new pricing as current quotes roll off at the start of 2026.

Overview

  • Channel reports say Dell, Lenovo, HP and HPE are preparing increases of about 15% for servers and roughly 5% for PCs, with Lenovo warning clients that current quotes expire on January 1, 2026.
  • Micron announced it will end retail sales of its Crucial-branded consumer memory and storage to prioritize large AI and data‑center customers.
  • Dell’s Jeff Clarke called the shortages unprecedented and said cost spikes extend beyond DRAM to NAND and other components, while HP and HPE acknowledged constraints and rising memory prices tied to AI buildouts.
  • Counterpoint forecasts DRAM prices to jump about 30% in Q4 2025 with a further rise early next year, and TrendForce estimates recent memory hikes have lifted smartphone production costs by roughly 8% to 10%.
  • Retail and channel effects are already visible, including higher DDR5 module prices, longer lead times, and stricter allocation, with analysts and vendors cautioning that device prices could rise into early 2026, particularly for lower‑margin Android phones.