Recent developments suggest that the graphics card market could soon face a significant price hike. The potential increase is attributed to escalating costs in the DRAM market, which is a critical component for GPUs. This change might affect gamers and tech enthusiasts as GPU prices are expected to rise.
Impending Impact of DRAM Shortages on GPUs
The ongoing shortage of DRAM is anticipated to impact the GPU sector shortly. Reports suggest that the prices of consumer DDR5 modules have more than doubled due to these shortages. Beyond memory modules, the DRAM industry plays a crucial role in graphics solutions, primarily GDDR6 and GDDR7, used by leading companies like AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA. As these shortages persist, the cost of graphics cards is expected to increase as well.
NVIDIA and AMD are likely to face rising procurement costs for GDDR DRAM, although they have yet to announce an immediate price hike. However, plans are reportedly in place to address these rising costs.
Predicted Price Increases for Graphics Cards
According to industry insiders, NVIDIA, AMD, and their partners might implement a price increase on existing graphics cards by Q1 2026, potentially as soon as December. Currently, GPUs from these manufacturers are selling below MSRP, but if the shortages persist, this may not last.
Recent DRAM price surges, with a near 90% increase since the last listing, indicate that costs for memory chips used in graphics cards are significantly rising. The exact moment when consumers will feel this impact remains uncertain, as official announcements have yet to be made. However, it is anticipated that price adjustments may occur in December or January 2026.
Insiders believe that NVIDIA or AMD will likely introduce these increases at the start of the first quarter of 2026, though it’s possible the changes could come sooner.
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Future of GPU Pricing Amid Market Changes
Reports also highlight that NVIDIA might have adjusted its launch schedule for the GeForce RTX 50 “SUPER” series due to these memory shortages and cost increases. With the gaming card segment facing challenges, GPU manufacturers might find the PRO and Workstation markets more appealing.
We will continue to monitor trends in DRAM and NAND markets and keep you informed of any changes in GPU pricing.