According to a new report by TrendForce, rising DRAM prices and constrained memory supply are forcing major PC manufacturers to raise prices on laptops, desktops, and servers by 15 to 20%.
The pressure stems largely from growing demand for memory in artificial intelligence infrastructure. As AI projects and data centers consume huge amounts of high-bandwidth memory, conventional PC DRAM, including DDR4 and DDR5, has become scarce.
As conventional DRAM supply tightens, PC makers are beginning to pass the added cost onto customers. According to TrendForce’s latest analysis, one of the world’s largest PC manufacturers, Dell, will increase prices on its desktops and notebooks by roughly 15 to 20 percent starting mid-December 2025. Meanwhile, another major player Lenovo plans to raise prices from January 2026 onward.
Industry watchers warn this is just the beginning. Memory-module prices have surged dramatically over the past year. Some DDR4 modules alone have more than doubled in cost for buyers building new PCs or upgrading existing machines. SSD prices have also jumped as NAND flash shortages ripple through supply chains, further increasing the cost of complete systems.
The result is a ripple effect across the entire PC supply chain. Retailers and system builders are feeling the pinch as costs rise, while consumers may see fewer affordable options when buying or upgrading computers. Some analysts warn that price increases of 20 to 50% on new laptops and desktops are possible by 2026.
Particularly affected are machines that require high density RAM, such as gaming rigs, creative workstation PCs, and configurations aimed at machine learning or video editing. The steep memory cost increases make such systems far more expensive to assemble.
Server markets are also seeing pressure. The increased cost of memory and storage components will likely raise server prices globally by double digits. This could impact businesses shifting to cloud services, companies building AI infrastructure, and enterprises planning to upgrade existing systems.
For consumers and PC builders this suddenly means more expensive hardware. Those planning new systems or upgrades may face significantly higher price tags through at least 2026.
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