Motherboard Prices Surge as ASUS and Others Hike AMD and Intel Lineups Amid 50% PCB Shortage

Major motherboard makers, including ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte, have started raising prices on their AMD and Intel products. The move comes amid an acute shortage of components, particularly printed circuit boards, worsened by suppliers shifting focus to the enterprise segment.

According to industry sources, the cost of PCBs used in consumer motherboards is set to rise by at least 50% in 2026. Beyond the boards themselves, copper, surface-mount capacitors, power components, and supporting controllers have also become more expensive, driving up overall production costs.

The shortage is largely driven by surging demand from data center operators building gigawatt-scale systems. These enterprises are willing to pay far more for components than typical retail buyers, prompting manufacturers to redirect supply to this segment. As a result, PC makers either face empty shelves or must pay premium prices for essential parts.

The impact extends beyond motherboards: graphics cards, processors, and power supplies are all seeing significant price increases. Industry players indicate that this cycle is unlikely to end soon, with major vendors expecting the trend to persist.

Adding to the pressure is weak demand in the DIY market. Motherboard shipments have dropped sharply, and higher costs cannot be fully passed on to end users. Taiwanese manufacturers have already warned of planned price hikes in the third quarter, while profit margins continue to shrink.