March 9th, 2026
Why Business PC Prices Are Rising in 2026:
The RAM Shortage and Supply Chain Reality
If you’ve recently priced out a new business computer, you may have noticed something surprising: the cost of typical office PCs has gone up significantly.
At Partek, we’ve seen some business systems—like Lenovo ThinkCentre desktops—increase by as much as 40–50% compared to pricing just a year ago. While it may seem sudden, these increases are the result of several global technology trends converging at the same time.
Understanding what’s driving these price changes can help businesses make smarter purchasing and budgeting decisions over the next few years.
The Core Issue: A Global Memory (RAM) Shortage
At the center of the current price increases is a global shortage of computer memory, commonly known as RAM.
RAM is a core component in nearly every computing device—from business desktops and laptops to servers and smartphones. When RAM becomes scarce or expensive, it drives up the cost of the entire computer.
Over the past year, the price of memory chips has increased dramatically. Industry analysts reported DRAM price increases of 40–60% during 2025, with additional increases expected through 2026.
The key reason: demand for memory has exploded—especially from artificial intelligence infrastructure.
AI Is Consuming the World’s Memory Supply
Artificial intelligence has rapidly become the largest consumer of advanced computer memory.
AI data centers run massive computing clusters with GPUs and specialized processors that require enormous amounts of RAM. Major technology companies—including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and OpenAI—are building data centers that consume huge portions of the global memory supply.
Some estimates suggest that AI infrastructure could consume up to 70% of high-end memory production by 2026.
Because the same manufacturers produce memory for both AI systems and PCs, suppliers are prioritizing the higher-margin AI market, leaving less capacity for traditional computers.
This shift has created a supply imbalance that is pushing prices higher across the entire hardware ecosystem.
Manufacturers Are Redirecting Production
Another factor contributing to shortages is how memory manufacturers allocate production.
Companies like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix—who collectively control most of the global DRAM supply—are shifting their factories toward specialized AI memory technologies such as HBM (High Bandwidth Memory).
These advanced chips generate higher profits, but they also reduce the manufacturing capacity available for standard PC memory.
The result is fewer memory chips available for everyday computers used in offices.
PC Manufacturers Are Passing the Cost On
Computer manufacturers such as Lenovo, Dell, and HP rely on these memory chips to build their systems. When component prices increase, they eventually have to pass those costs on to customers.
Industry reports indicate that PC manufacturers began warning partners about upcoming price increases as early as late 2025. Some systems are expected to see price increases of 15–20% or more, depending on configuration and memory capacity.
Memory itself now represents a much larger portion of a computer’s manufacturing cost—sometimes double what it was just a year earlier.
For businesses purchasing dozens or hundreds of machines, these increases add up quickly.
PC Manufacturers Are Passing the Cost On
Computer manufacturers such as Lenovo, Dell, and HP rely on these memory chips to build their systems. When component prices increase, they eventually have to pass those costs on to customers.
Industry reports indicate that PC manufacturers began warning partners about upcoming price increases as early as late 2025. Some systems are expected to see price increases of 15–20% or more, depending on configuration and memory capacity.
Memory itself now represents a much larger portion of a computer’s manufacturing cost—sometimes double what it was just a year earlier.
For businesses purchasing dozens or hundreds of machines, these increases add up quickly.
Why We’ve Seen Larger Increases in Some Business PCs
In many cases, the price increases businesses are seeing exceed the average industry numbers. There are several reasons for this:
- Business PCs Use More RAM: Modern business computers often ship with 16GB or more of RAM to support modern applications, cloud tools, and security software. Higher memory configurations are hit harder by price increases.
- Component Bundling: RAM shortages often affect other components as well, including SSD storage and motherboard chipsets, which can amplify the price increase of a full system.
- Corporate Supply Contracts: Manufacturers frequently adjust pricing at the start of a fiscal or supply cycle. When those contracts renew during a shortage, businesses can see larger jumps.
When Will Prices Normalize?
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be a short-term disruption.
Industry analysts expect the memory shortage to continue until at least 2027, when new semiconductor fabrication plants begin coming online.
Until then, prices may remain elevated—and in some cases could continue rising as AI infrastructure expands.
What Businesses Should Do
While businesses can’t control global semiconductor markets, they can plan around them.
Here are a few practical recommendations:
- Budget for higher hardware costs
PC refresh budgets may need adjustment over the next 2–3 years. - Avoid delaying necessary upgrades
Waiting for prices to “come back down” may not be realistic in the short term. - Standardize hardware models
Standardizing systems helps reduce procurement complexity and supply risk. - Plan refresh cycles proactively
Replacing aging systems before failure avoids urgent purchases during supply shortages.
Final Thoughts
The current rise in business PC pricing isn’t simply inflation—it’s the result of major shifts in the global technology industry.
Artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing constraints, and supply chain realignment are all reshaping how computer hardware is produced and priced.
For businesses, the key takeaway is simple: technology procurement is becoming more strategic than ever.
Working with an IT partner who monitors these trends can help organizations plan ahead, avoid supply issues, and make smart long-term investments in their technology.
