Get Your Wallets Ready, Motherboard Prices are Going to Skyrocket

Motherboard prices may be on the verge of a significant increase, affecting those looking to build a computer or upgrade their existing system. According to recent supply chain reports, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI are preparing a major price hike for consumer models in the third quarter of the year. While no official statement has yet been released from the brands, if the rumored increase is realized, building an affordable system will become even more difficult.

Motherboard Prices Could Increase by 50%

According to China-based supply chain sources, the three major manufacturers are planning to increase motherboard prices by at least 50%. While a specific date hasn’t been shared, it’s suggested the change could be implemented sometime in the third quarter of 2026. A model currently selling for $200 could potentially exceed $300 with such a price increase. For high-end products, the additional cost could be much higher.

This price increase isn’t driven by a single component. The costs of printed circuit boards, copper, surface-mount capacitors, power distribution components, and controller chips are all rising simultaneously. Models offering powerful VRM systems and more connectivity options, which already use expensive components, may feel the cost pressure even harder. Manufacturers also seem unable to fully absorb the increased costs themselves.

On the other hand, there are declining sales. The crisis in memory and other hardware components is causing a decrease in the number of users building their own computers, leading to slower motherboard shipments. With fewer products sold, development, production, and logistics costs are spread across a smaller number of models. In short, both the cost of parts is increasing and the sales volume available for manufacturers to spread costs is shrinking.

This claim has not yet been confirmed by ASUS, GIGABYTE, or MSI. Therefore, it wouldn’t be accurate to consider the 50% increase as a confirmed price hike. However, considering the increases in DDR4, DDR5, processors, and other components, a price change wouldn’t be surprising. For those planning to build a system soon, evaluating existing options might be more sensible than waiting. If motherboard prices really rise this much, the era of budget-friendly computers will take a serious hit.

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