PC Component Prices May Keep Rising Until Mid-2027, Acer Expects Market Stability Later
PC builders hoping for cheaper memory, SSDs, graphics cards, and processors may need to stay patient a little longer. According to Acer Chairman and CEO Jason Chen, the PC hardware market is not expected to fully stabilize until the second half of 2027, with component prices likely to continue rising before they begin to ease.
The current PC component market has been under pressure for months. DDR5 memory, DDR4 memory, SSDs, GPUs, and other key hardware categories have all seen pricing shifts as demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to reshape the semiconductor supply chain. AI servers and data centers are consuming large volumes of memory and advanced chips, leaving the consumer PC market facing tighter supply and higher costs.
Another factor that may add pressure is rising semiconductor manufacturing costs. Foundry price increases could eventually affect CPUs and other chips, meaning desktop and laptop buyers may see higher prices in the months ahead.
Chen believes the market could face another notable price increase in the fourth quarter of 2026. Based on his outlook, PC component costs may rise by around 5% to 20% during that period. This could affect both individual PC parts and complete systems, including laptops, desktops, and prebuilt gaming PCs.
However, Acer’s leadership does not expect this difficult pricing environment to last forever. Chen suggested that prices may reach their peak around mid-2027. After that point, the market could slowly begin to recover as supply improves and demand becomes more balanced.
Memory remains one of the most important areas to watch. DDR4 and DDR5 supply has been a major concern for PC manufacturers and consumers, but Chen indicated that the shortage is no longer as severe as before. He also noted that semiconductor companies are expanding production capacity, which should help relieve pressure over time.
In his view, it is unlikely that the memory shortage could continue as far as 2030. With manufacturers investing in new facilities and additional production lines, more supply should gradually enter the market.
CPU availability is also reportedly improving, although some entry-level and mid-range models may still face supply challenges. This matters because budget and mainstream systems rely heavily on these chips, and limited availability can quickly push prices higher for affordable PCs.
Acer’s outlook suggests that the PC market is currently in a transition period. Suppliers are beginning to bring more components online, but demand from buyers has not fully caught up in all areas. This creates an unusual situation where manufacturers may have more parts available, yet pricing remains elevated due to broader supply chain and production cost pressures.
For consumers, the key takeaway is simple: PC upgrades may not get cheaper in the near term. Anyone planning to build a gaming PC, upgrade memory, buy a new SSD, or purchase a laptop may continue to face higher prices through 2026 and into early 2027.
The second half of 2027 could be the turning point. If production expansion continues and AI-related demand becomes easier to manage, PC component prices may finally begin to decline. Until then, buyers should expect volatility across the hardware market, especially in memory, storage, GPUs, and CPUs.
For now, Acer’s forecast points to more price increases before relief arrives. The PC industry may be moving toward stability, but that recovery is still likely more than a year away.
