The RAM Shortage Impact Is Spreading... - Tech News Feb 8
A severe global memory shortage is rippling through the PC industry, with Counterpoint warning of 80–90% RAM price increases from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026 and major OEMs scrambling for supply. Manufacturers including HP, Dell, Acer and Asus have turned to Chinese fabricator CXMT as parts tighten, and component cost pressures and raw-material spikes are forcing higher system pricing. The shortage has delayed or imperiled high-profile launches: Valve pushed its Steam Machine and VR headset launch window, Nvidia reportedly shelved gamer-focused RTX 50/60 rollouts for 2026, and Intel appears to have mothballed the ARC B770 in favor of higher-margin professional GPUs. Amid the pain, some firms and integrators are reporting product-reliability data and exploring alternatives, but widespread consumer PC affordability and launch timelines remain highly uncertain.
Is PC Building Dead? - Probing Paul #100
In his 100th Probing Paul episode, Paul warns that the PC-building landscape could worsen in 2026 as contract memory prices surge—DRAM up roughly 90–95% quarter-on-quarter and NAND up 55–60%—driven by AI and data-center demand. He notes immediate knock-on effects at...