Potential CPU shortage warning
Gaming PC makers warn a fresh CPU shortage could be looming — storage prices are already spiraling and shortages may push processor prices or availability higher in coming months. (techradar.com) If you’re planning a build or upgrade this spring, vendors suggest acting fast before supply squeezes or price spikes appear. (techradar.com)
Nikkei Asia reported that Intel told customers it will raise CPU prices starting in March and that AMD plans similar increases in April, with average hikes of about 10–15% across product lines. (pcmag.com) Channel and distributor sources say lead times for ordered processors have stretched from roughly 1–2 weeks to averages of 8–12 weeks, with some buyers in China reporting waits up to six months. (techpowerup.com) PC makers including HP and Dell told industry contacts they are receiving fewer Intel and AMD chips than they ordered, a shortfall that manufacturers say is already forcing allocation decisions. (techspot.com) Market research firms project NAND‑flash contract prices rose 33–38% quarter‑over‑quarter in Q1 2026, and some tracking data shows 1TB consumer SSD retail prices roughly doubled from about $45 to near $90 between late 2025 and early 2026. (nand-research.com) Phison’s CEO has publicly said NAND prices have more than doubled and that much of 2026 production is already sold out, a claim vendors link to the current spike in consumer storage costs. (tomshardware.com) An Intel executive confirmed the company has implemented price increases for OEM customers amid constrained capacity, and multiple reports tie the squeeze to hyperscaler and AI data‑center demand that is prioritizing server chips over some consumer lines. (crn.com)
