PC enthusiasts planning to build or upgrade their systems could soon face higher motherboard prices as manufacturers grapple with rising material costs and ongoing supply chain pressures.
Reports circulating in the technology industry suggest motherboard makers, including ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI, may increase prices in the coming months after production costs reportedly surged.
The speculation emerged after a report on a Chinese supply chain forum claimed component and manufacturing costs could rise sharply. Although the original post is no longer publicly accessible, several technology publications cited the report, prompting analysts to examine its credibility.
AI boom driving component demand
Industry experts say higher motherboard prices are plausible as artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure continues to consume large quantities of memory, storage and other electronic components.
Cassandra Cummings, chief executive of electronics manufacturing company Thomas Instrumentation Inc., said motherboards depend on materials such as copper and memory chips, both of which have become more expensive amid growing demand.
She also pointed to supply chain disruptions affecting chemicals used in electronics manufacturing, adding that geopolitical tensions and conflict in the Middle East have further strained global supplies.
Costs likely to keep rising
Joshua Goshorn, senior director at Quandary Peak Research, said increasing demand for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and manufacturing materials makes higher motherboard prices a reasonable expectation.
However, he believes any increases may be less severe than the sharp price rises recently seen in RAM and solid-state drives (SSDs).
Large PC manufacturers such as Dell and Apple may also be better positioned to absorb higher costs because of their long-term supply contracts and bulk purchasing agreements, leaving individual PC builders more exposed to price increases.
Experts advise buying sooner
Custom PC manufacturer Maingear said motherboard prices have remained relatively stable compared with memory and storage, but warned that could soon change.
William Santos, the company's chief executive, advised consumers planning a PC upgrade to purchase components sooner rather than later if they want to avoid potential price increases.
Analysts say while production capacity for circuit boards continues to expand, higher raw material costs are expected to keep pressure on consumer prices in the near term.
