The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has left a bleak outlook for the PC industry, with manufacturers bracing themselves for price hikes and limited availability of consumer goods. The rising cost of RAM, driven by demand from AI datacenters, is having a ripple effect on component supplies, leading to shortages and increased prices.
The Dell XPS 14, which starts at an eye-watering $2,050, is just one example of how this trend is affecting PC manufacturers. Last year's model was available for under $1,700, but the new version has seen its price increase by over $500. While Dell representatives claim that cheaper configurations will be made available in February, it remains to be seen whether these will actually materialize.
The situation isn't unique to Dell, however. Apple's MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models are also expected to see significant price hikes, with the 14-inch model remaining unchanged at $1,599 despite ongoing RAM shortages. Meanwhile, NVIDIA and AMD have announced new AI supercomputers that are devouring large amounts of RAM, further exacerbating the shortage.
AMD Corporate Vice President David McAfee has predicted that PC builders will focus on making piecemeal upgrades rather than building entirely new systems this year. He notes that the AM4 platform, which accounts for around 30-40% of AMD's business, is still experiencing demand despite the volatile memory market.
However, McAfee also warns that the volatility in DRAM pricing and GPU prices will continue to impact the industry. While he expects prices to settle within the first six months of the year, he doesn't provide any further insight into this prediction.
The situation highlights a broader issue: our global supply of memory is being consumed by the AI industry, leaving little for consumer electronics. As the demand for high-performance computing continues to grow, PC manufacturers will have to adapt and find ways to mitigate the effects of rising RAM prices.
One potential solution is the development of more efficient memory technologies, such as those used in AMD's X3D chips. These chips feature large amounts of onboard L2 and L3 cache, which can help offset slower memory transfer speeds. However, it remains to be seen whether these solutions will be enough to address the ongoing shortage.
For now, consumers can expect price hikes and limited availability of consumer goods. The industry is bracing itself for a challenging year ahead, one that will require innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of rising RAM prices.
The Dell XPS 14, which starts at an eye-watering $2,050, is just one example of how this trend is affecting PC manufacturers. Last year's model was available for under $1,700, but the new version has seen its price increase by over $500. While Dell representatives claim that cheaper configurations will be made available in February, it remains to be seen whether these will actually materialize.
The situation isn't unique to Dell, however. Apple's MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models are also expected to see significant price hikes, with the 14-inch model remaining unchanged at $1,599 despite ongoing RAM shortages. Meanwhile, NVIDIA and AMD have announced new AI supercomputers that are devouring large amounts of RAM, further exacerbating the shortage.
AMD Corporate Vice President David McAfee has predicted that PC builders will focus on making piecemeal upgrades rather than building entirely new systems this year. He notes that the AM4 platform, which accounts for around 30-40% of AMD's business, is still experiencing demand despite the volatile memory market.
However, McAfee also warns that the volatility in DRAM pricing and GPU prices will continue to impact the industry. While he expects prices to settle within the first six months of the year, he doesn't provide any further insight into this prediction.
The situation highlights a broader issue: our global supply of memory is being consumed by the AI industry, leaving little for consumer electronics. As the demand for high-performance computing continues to grow, PC manufacturers will have to adapt and find ways to mitigate the effects of rising RAM prices.
One potential solution is the development of more efficient memory technologies, such as those used in AMD's X3D chips. These chips feature large amounts of onboard L2 and L3 cache, which can help offset slower memory transfer speeds. However, it remains to be seen whether these solutions will be enough to address the ongoing shortage.
For now, consumers can expect price hikes and limited availability of consumer goods. The industry is bracing itself for a challenging year ahead, one that will require innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of rising RAM prices.
... A $500 price hike on a laptop? That's just crazy talk! 
But at the same time, you gotta wonder if we're gonna see some cool tech innovations come out of this mess... I'm talking about those new AI supercomputers and the advancements in memory tech like X3D chips. 
It might not be pretty for consumers right now, but who knows what's cooking under the hood? 
The industry is always evolving, and we should expect some exciting developments to come out of this. So, let's just take a deep breath and hope that the good stuff outweighs the bad 
...
PCs are gonna get pricey 
... I mean, I'm not surprised. AI is taking over everything 
and our demand for memory is going up. It's like, we can't even have a new laptop without breaking the bank 
Can't wait to see what AMD does to address this... hopefully they come up with some magic 
that'll make our wallets happy again 
. The price hike on already expensive laptops like the Dell XPS 14 and Apple MacBook Pro is just ridiculous 
, but shouldn't there be more consideration for regular people? I mean, are we just going to have to sit back and wait for these prices to come down? 
Meanwhile, it's like everyone else just expects prices to keep going up and down without any real resolution... what's the point? 
and I'm still reeling from it. I saw this huge exhibit on ancient civilizations at the museum and it completely blew my mind. I mean, who knew that 5,000 years ago people were already building complex cities and harnessing energy like we are today? It's crazy to think about how much has changed in just a few millennia.
I mean, who doesn't love paying an extra $500 for a laptop? It's not like we're living in a golden age of affordability and choice or anything 
And yeah, maybe it's a bit inconvenient that consumer electronics are getting hit hard by AI datacenter demand. But honestly, can we blame them for investing in the future? I'd rather have a premium product with some fancy features than a cheaper one with who-knows-what kind of compromises. Besides, if PC manufacturers start churning out more efficient memory tech like AMD's X3D chips, that's a win-win for everyone 
. And yeah, developing more efficient memory tech is the only way forward, I guess 
.