- AI-focused memory production limits availability for consumer hardware
- DRAM costs are rising faster than most manufacturers expected
- Dell and Lenovo announce double-digit price increases for enterprise servers
Server and PC manufacturers are facing a sharp increase in component costs, mainly driven by memory shortages.
Analysts warn that DRAM and HBM production is increasingly focused on AI servers, reducing the availability of standard consumer hardware.
TrendForce estimates that DRAM prices could increase between 8 and 13%, while Counterpoint predicts an even steeper increase.
Industry responses and price adjustments
This shift in manufacturing priorities has caused companies to rethink product lines, with some brands discontinuing consumer-focused memory to meet business demand.
Major OEMs including Dell, Lenovo, HP and HPE are planning big price increases for servers, expected to be around 15%, while PC prices are expected to rise around 5%.
Dell’s COO described the shortage as “unprecedented” and noted that supply is struggling to keep up with rising demand.
Memory components, NAND, hard drives and advanced semiconductor nodes are all under pressure.
Channel sources suggest that extended delivery times are now common across brands, with the exception of Apple Macs and Microsoft Surface products, which appear to be less affected.
Memory manufacturers are increasingly turning to AI-focused production, which affects the availability and cost of components for general hardware.
Micron recently announced the discontinuation of its Crucial brand in order to prioritize large customers with AI servers.
Samsung has reportedly increased memory prices by up to 60% as fabs shift capacity towards AI workloads.
This increase in demand has created volatility across the memory market, leaving manufacturers scrambling to adjust pricing and supply strategies.
Supply chain sources indicate that almost all major manufacturers are planning double-digit increases in server prices and moderate increases in PCs.
Lenovo’s COO warned that cost pressures on memory and SSDs are “more dramatic than usual,” making mitigation difficult.
HP described higher memory costs as a “temporary headwind” that primarily affects PCs rather than peripherals.
Despite these adjustments, IDC analysts note that the current market movement is unusually large compared to past swings.
The trend reveals AI’s growing influence on hardware markets, where demand for servers, CPUs and GPUs is driving memory scarcity.
As manufacturers work to manage the impact, the pace of these price shifts suggests that enterprise and consumer hardware budgets will be under sustained pressure.
Via The register
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