For gamers and tech enthusiasts, some concerning news is on the horizon: a significant graphics card price increase may be coming soon. Industry giants AMD and Nvidia are reportedly preparing to raise prices in the first quarter of 2026 due to soaring production costs. This development directly impacts anyone planning to build a new PC or upgrade their current system.
Why is a Graphics Card Price Increase Happening?
The primary reason behind this potential price hike is the explosive demand for artificial intelligence systems. The rapid advancement of AI technology has pushed the need for memory components like DRAM and NAND Flash, used in servers and data centers, to record levels. Consequently, memory prices have seen a sharp rise in recent months, directly affecting the manufacturing costs of numerous electronic products, including graphics cards.
According to the latest reports, both AMD and Nvidia plan to pass these increased costs on to consumers before the end of the first quarter of 2026. The price increase is expected to be much more noticeable in high-end models. Furthermore, some rumors even suggest that the yet-to-be-released Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 could be priced as high as $5,000. While this figure seems unlikely for now, it highlights the seriousness of the expected price surge.
Asus Takes the Lead: Will Other Brands Follow?
One of the first companies to take action on price adjustments is Asus, a leading global hardware manufacturer. The company had previously announced it would be increasing product prices starting January 5th. Additionally, Asus stated that its next-generation products, set to be unveiled at CES 2026, would launch with higher price tags than initially planned. This move is seen as a significant indicator that other major players in the industry may soon follow a similar path.
So, what are your thoughts on this potential graphics card price increase? Share your opinions with us in the comments!
