Motherboard Price Hike Reportedly Imminent, AI Boom is to Blame

The AI race isn’t slowing down, which has resulted in hardware buyers compelled to pay the higher price for months. First memory prices jumped. SSDs followed soon. Data center demand kept absorbing more manufacturing capacity. Now, another essential PC component may be heading down the same road.

AI demand may soon push motherboard prices even higher

According to Chinese industry publication Board Channels, motherboard manufacturing costs are climbing sharply. The report, machine-translated and first highlighted by VideoCardz, claims printed circuit board prices could rise by at least 50% during 2026.

PCBs are one of the most important parts of every motherboard. They connect every major component together. Their rising cost alone creates significant pressure for motherboard manufacturers.

That isn’t the only problem manufacturers reportedly face. Surface-mount capacitors, copper, and supporting controller chips have also become considerably more expensive. Those combined increases are making motherboard production far more costly than before.

ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte reportedly eye Q3 price adjustments

The report claims ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte are among the companies dealing with those higher costs. At the same time, weaker DIY PC demand has reportedly limited their ability to raise prices immediately.

Board Channels claims manufacturers now hope to restore profitability through price adjustments beginning in the third quarter of 2026. The report also says vendors want healthier margins across retail distribution channels.

That being said, no manufacturer has officially confirmed upcoming motherboard price increases. ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte have not publicly announced any pricing changes.

If the report proves accurate, DIY PC builders could soon face another wave of higher hardware costs. After RAM, SSDs, and storage, motherboards may become the latest casualty of the ongoing AI infrastructure boom.