The PC industry is facing an uncertain future, with prices set to skyrocket and availability dwindling. At CES 2026, manufacturers showcased a slew of new systems that will likely be sold at inflated prices.
One of the earliest signs of trouble was Dell's XPS 14 and XPS 16, which started at $1,699 and $1,899 respectively last year but have now jumped to $2,050 and $2,200. The price increases were attributed to rising RAM costs driven by demand from AI datacenters.
AMD executive David McAfee predicted that PC builders will focus on piecemeal upgrades rather than building entirely new systems, citing the longevity of AMD's AM4 and AM5 platforms as a boon for gamers. He noted that 30-40% of AMD's business still revolves around these platforms despite increasing RAM costs.
McAfee also warned about potential GPU price increases, attributing volatility to DRAM pricing forces affecting the market. However, he suggested that prices will settle within the first three to six months of the year.
NVIDIA and AMD announced new AI supercomputers, including the Vera Rubin AI supercomputer with up to 54TB of RAM across 36 GPUs and the Helios AI rack with 31TB of memory across 72 GPUs. While these systems are designed for high-performance computing in AI model building and inferencing, their massive requirements raise concerns about the supply of memory.
In essence, the global shortage of memory is being redirected to fuel the growing demand from the AI industry, leaving consumers facing higher prices for PC components and potentially limited availability. The future looks bleak for those reliant on personal computers, as manufacturers seem more focused on catering to the whims of a niche market than supporting everyday users.
One of the earliest signs of trouble was Dell's XPS 14 and XPS 16, which started at $1,699 and $1,899 respectively last year but have now jumped to $2,050 and $2,200. The price increases were attributed to rising RAM costs driven by demand from AI datacenters.
AMD executive David McAfee predicted that PC builders will focus on piecemeal upgrades rather than building entirely new systems, citing the longevity of AMD's AM4 and AM5 platforms as a boon for gamers. He noted that 30-40% of AMD's business still revolves around these platforms despite increasing RAM costs.
McAfee also warned about potential GPU price increases, attributing volatility to DRAM pricing forces affecting the market. However, he suggested that prices will settle within the first three to six months of the year.
NVIDIA and AMD announced new AI supercomputers, including the Vera Rubin AI supercomputer with up to 54TB of RAM across 36 GPUs and the Helios AI rack with 31TB of memory across 72 GPUs. While these systems are designed for high-performance computing in AI model building and inferencing, their massive requirements raise concerns about the supply of memory.
In essence, the global shortage of memory is being redirected to fuel the growing demand from the AI industry, leaving consumers facing higher prices for PC components and potentially limited availability. The future looks bleak for those reliant on personal computers, as manufacturers seem more focused on catering to the whims of a niche market than supporting everyday users.
... like, I get that AI is changing the game and all, but can't we just have decent gaming rigs without breaking the bank? $2k for a laptop is straight up crazy 
. And what's with these piecemeal upgrades? Are we really gonna keep shelling out cash for individual components instead of getting a new system altogether? It just feels like manufacturers are more interested in feeding the AI beast than giving regular people a fair shot. I mean, I'm all about innovation and progress, but can't we find a way to make PC prices more accessible? 
It's all about caterin' to those fancy-pants gamers and scientists who need the most high-tech stuff, but what about us regular folks who just want a decent laptop for scrollin' through Facebook? 
. but seriously though, gpu prices are about to take off and i'm not sure how long we can keep up 
. idk man, maybe AMD's right that prices will settle down eventually, but for now it's just meh 
... I mean, have you seen the price hikes on those new XPS systems? That's just crazy talk 
. Their business model seems solid and I'm sure it'll help them weather the storm. But what about all us PC enthusiasts who just want to game or create content without breaking the bank? 
.
. I'm fascinated by the tech behind them and how it'll impact fields like medicine and climate modeling. But at what cost? 
And it's not like we're talking about some fancy gaming rig here, just your run-of-the-mill PC for everyday use. It's just so frustrating when the manufacturers forget that they're making these things for regular people, not just hardcore gamers or AI nerds 
. and dont even get me started on GPU prices... 54TB of RAM? wut r they even buildin now? 
I just hope we can find a balance that makes these new tech advancements accessible to more people, rather than pricing them out of the market altogether 
, now they're pushing up GPU prices too 
. And what's the point of all this? So AI datacenters can get more powerful computers 
. It's not right that manufacturers are prioritizing their AI clients over the rest of us 
. We need better deals for everyone, not just a select few 
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. So, Dell's XPS 14 and 16 are now basically luxury cars with prices that'll put a Tesla out of business 
. I mean, who needs affordable PCs when you've got AI supercomputers demanding 54TB of RAM and 72 GPUs? It's like manufacturers have officially lost touch with reality 
. Can't wait to see how high those prices go and what kind of " innovations" will come out of this...
but what abt us regular folks? 
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