ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte to raise motherboard prices in Q3 – Here’s why
AI-induced component and material shortages could greatly increase the price of motherboards – report claims
If PC enthusiasts need another reason to hate AI, here’s one. AI-induced components and material shortages are leading to a round of price increases for motherboard makers. Gigabyte, ASUS, and MSI are all reportedly planning price increases for Q3 2026.
Price increases impact materials like copper, surface-mount capacitors, power devices, and various control chips. These price increases have raised the material cost of new motherboards. According to a report on board channels, via Videocardz, the price of motherboard PCBs is due to increase by at least 50% in 2026.
A bad time for motherboard makers
High memory prices, rising component costs, and a lack of new CPU launches (aside from product refreshes and re-releases) have made it a challenging time for motherboard makers. Demand is low, and prices are rising. Additionally, the Hormuz crisis has increased logistics costs (higher fuel costs). Low demand makes it hard for motherboard makers to pass on these increased costs to users. This has dramatically lowered motherboard makers’ profitability.
Higher motherboard costs will have more downstream effects. System Integrators and OEMs will have higher motherboard costs, raising the prices of full PCs. This could further dampen demand and create further weakness in the PC sector.
(Board Channels – Via Videocardz)
These rising costs can be attributed to AI and rapid datacenter buildouts. Usually, demand-related component price increases are a sign of high demand for motherboards and a good time for motherboard makers. This time, demand is coming from elsewhere in the electronics industry, with AI and rapid datacenter buildouts causing huge damage to the consumer tech industry. AI’s hoarding of components has decimated the consumer tech sector, with huge downstream effects.
Unless something changes soon, PC enthusiasts can expect further component price increases, and console gamers can expect next-generation systems to be unaffordable for many gamers. Now is a terrible time to be building a PC, and that situation isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Unless AI datacenter demand suddenly evaporates, component pricing is likely to continue increasing.
You can join the discussion on upcoming motherboard price increases on the OC3D Forums.
