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Why are computer hardware prices rising so fast in?
As an advisor to IT service providers and procurement managers, I must be direct: we are witnessing a supply chain constriction reminiscent of the 1970s silicon shortages. The market dynamics for RAM and SSDs have fundamentally shifted. This is no longer standard inflation; it is a structural reallocation of manufacturing resources driven by the artificial intelligence sector.
The IT Provider’s Dilemma: Volatility Kills Quotes
The stability you relied on for contract pricing has evaporated. Feedback from IT professionals, specifically regarding the last two months, indicates that standard hardware quotes are now obsolete within days.
Service providers face a critical operational hazard:
- Quote Validity: Offering a 14-day price guarantee is now a financial risk. RAM prices fluctuate daily, often erasing margins between the time a quote is sent and the time the order is booked.
- Inventory Uncertainty: Major OEMs like Dell are reportedly delaying server shipments due to SSD shortages. You cannot deploy what you cannot source.
Advisor Note: You must shift your client contracts to “cost-plus” models or drastically shorten quote validity periods immediately. Transparency about the supply chain is your only defense against client dissatisfaction.
The Root Cause: AI Cannibalization of Manufacturing
The core issue is not merely increased demand; it is the displacement of production capacity.
Global semiconductor foundries have finite capacity. The profitability of components used in AI infrastructure—specifically High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for GPUs—dwarfs that of standard consumer RAM (DDR5) or NAND flash for SSDs. Consequently, manufacturers have converted production lines to prioritize HBM.
This creates a supply vacuum for the rest of the market. As predicted by the CEO of OVHcloud, this shift will likely drive cloud service costs up by 5-10% by 2026. Furthermore, hardware procured in late 2026 is projected to cost 15-35% more than the same hardware purchased today. The “AI revolution” is effectively devouring the resources needed for general-purpose computing.
The Data: analyzing the 81% Price Spike
Recent internal analyses from comparison portals confirm the severity of this trend. Over a four-month period ending November 2025, the average online price for DDR5 RAM surged by 81%.
Specific market samples illustrate the volatility:
- Corsair Vengeance RGB (32GB Kit): Rose from €129 to €237 (+84%).
- Patriot Memory Viper Venom (32GB Kit): Jumped from €96 to €199 (+107%).
With 96% of analyzed products showing price increases, this is an industry-wide baseline reset, not an isolated fluctuation.
The Compliance Trap: NIS2 and Windows 11
This supply crisis collides with two massive regulatory and technical deadlines, creating a “perfect storm” for businesses.
- NIS2 Directive: Many companies must replace aging hardware to comply with the NIS2 cybersecurity directive. Older hardware stops receiving firmware updates, making it non-compliant.
- Windows 10 End of Support: Approximately 500 million PCs are currently incompatible with Windows 11.
Organizations are legally required to upgrade infrastructure at the exact moment that infrastructure is becoming unaffordable or unavailable.
Strategic Outlook
Do not expect a correction before 2027. The demand for AI infrastructure is insatiable, and consumer hardware is now a secondary priority for manufacturers.
If you require hardware for compliance or expansion, delaying procurement in hopes of better pricing is a losing strategy. Secure your inventory now. We are moving into an era where hardware availability is the primary constraint on business growth, and capital allocation must account for significantly higher IT operational costs for the foreseeable future.