Building a desktop PC could soon become even more expensive, with reports suggesting motherboard prices may rise sharply as manufacturers face increasing production costs across the supply chain.

According to supply chain information published by Taiwanese industry forum Board Channels and reported by VideoCardz, the cost of printed circuit boards used in motherboards is expected to increase by at least 50 per cent before the end of 2026.

The report also points to higher prices for several other essential components used in motherboard production, including voltage regulation modules (VRMs), controller chips, copper heatsinks and surface-mounted capacitors. Together, these increases are expected to push manufacturing costs significantly higher.

Major motherboard manufacturers including Asus, MSI and Gigabyte are reportedly preparing to pass some of those additional costs on to consumers, with price increases potentially arriving during the third quarter of 2026.

The latest report comes as PC buyers are already paying substantially more for memory and storage. RAM and solid-state drive prices have risen throughout the year as semiconductor manufacturers shift production towards high-bandwidth memory used in artificial intelligence servers and data centres.

Photo by Michael Dziedzic

If motherboard prices also climb, consumers assembling their own computers could face considerably higher costs for new builds or upgrades.

Ironically, the reported price rises come as demand for desktop PCs continues to weaken.

The report claims Asus has struggled to meet its revised motherboard shipment targets for 2026 after lowering expectations earlier this year. MSI and Gigabyte are also reportedly forecasting double-digit declines in motherboard shipments as consumer demand softens.

Higher prices may place additional pressure on the DIY PC market, where enthusiasts are already weighing the increasing cost of new hardware against more modest performance gains.

Neither Asus, MSI nor Gigabyte has officially confirmed plans to increase motherboard prices, and the reported 50 per cent rise in component costs could still change before any retail adjustments are introduced.

However, if the supply chain reports prove accurate, motherboards may become the next major PC component to experience significant price increases, adding further pressure to a market already affected by rising memory and storage costs.

Featured photo by Anne Nygard