Gaming GPUs Might Get More Expensive in Early 2026 Due to Rising DRAM Costs

The global DRAM shortage that has already driven consumer DDR5 prices sharply upward may soon impact graphics cards as well. Reports circulating through Chinese Board Channel forums indicate that GPU manufacturers and board partners are preparing for rising GDDR procurement costs, which could trigger price increases as early as December of this year.

DRAM shortages have already caused consumer DDR5 modules to more than double in price. However, the DRAM market extends far beyond system memory. The graphics segment relies heavily on GDDR6 and GDDR7 memory, which are used across nearly all modern gaming GPUs. AMD and Intel primarily use GDDR6, while NVIDIA has moved to GDDR7 for its RTX 50 series. These chips are now being affected by the same supply constraints that have impacted traditional DRAM.

According to the report, the purchasing cost of GDDR memory has begun to increase. Both NVIDIA and AMD have acknowledged that procurement expenses for GDDR solutions will rise, although neither company has issued an official statement regarding a direct price increase for graphics cards. Internal discussions within the industry suggest that partners are already preparing for higher costs across the board.

Channel sources claim that by the first quarter of 2026, or potentially earlier in December, NVIDIA, AMD, and their board partners may introduce price increases for existing graphics cards. This comes shortly after many GPUs briefly started retailing below MSRP in select regions, a rare moment of relief for gamers that may not last.

Current information suggests that DRAM chip makers have raised prices by at least ninety percent compared to earlier market listings, nearly doubling costs. This has led many analysts to conclude that the memory used in graphics cards has also become significantly more expensive. Higher BOM costs will inevitably influence retail prices once manufacturer inventories run out and new procurement cycles begin.

The timing remains the only uncertainty. NVIDIA, AMD, and board partners have not provided any public timeline for potential price adjustments. However, industry insiders speculate that an increase is likely to occur early in the first quarter of 2026. It is also possible that manufacturers could advance the price adjustment to December or January depending on inventory levels and supply chain conditions.

There are also indications that NVIDIA may have recently revised the launch schedule for certain GeForce RTX 50 series models due to the memory shortage. Some analysts believe that workstation and professional products could offer better margins than gaming cards during a period of restricted GDDR supply.

The DRAM and NAND markets remain extremely volatile, and the GPU segment appears to be the next hardware category at risk of price escalation. Analysts recommend monitoring the situation closely, especially for buyers who plan to upgrade in early 2026.

Are you considering a GPU upgrade soon, or will rising memory costs push you to wait? Share your thoughts below.