Tom's Hardware: 60% of PC gamers

Tom's Hardware reported on May 16 that a majority of its readers are putting off their next PC build, adding a fresh data point to a hardware market already strained by rising memory costs. The site said a survey of more than 1,500 readers found 60% do not plan to build a new PC within the next two years. Tom's Hardware tied that reluctance to higher prices for RAM, SSDs and graphics components, which it said have stayed elevated as AI infrastructure spending absorbs supply. TrendForce, a market researcher, said on March 31 that DRAM suppliers were reallocating capacity toward HBM and server products, with conventional DRAM contract prices projected to rise 58% to 63% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2026. ### How broad was the survey result? Tom's Hardware said more than 1,500 readers took part in the May survey, and exactly 60% said they were waiting two years or more before building their next PC. The same report said only about a quarter expected to try building within the next year. The survey reflects Tom's Hardware's own audience rather than the entire PC market. (tomshardware.com) Still, the result lines up with the site's recent reporting on weakening motherboard demand and higher component prices across enthusiast hardware. ### What components are getting squeezed by AI demand? TrendForce said on March 31 that suppliers were shifting capacity toward server-related applications and high-bandwidth memory, tightening supply for consumer segments. (europesays.com) The firm said graphics DRAM prices were expected to rise further in the second quarter because limited capacity allocation to GDDR was constraining supply, while rising memory costs were already weighing on demand for notebooks and gaming devices. (tomshardware.com) Tom's Hardware said SSDs, graphics cards and system memory were among the categories staying expensive. Its report cited 32GB of RAM at $360 as an example of how far component pricing has moved for buyers planning a midrange or high-end build. ### Is this just a RAM story, or a wider PC-build problem? Tom's Hardware framed the issue as broader than memory alone, saying multiple parts of the enthusiast bill of materials remain expensive at the same time. (trendforce.com) When RAM, SSDs and GPUs all rise together, the effect lands directly on self-build buyers who price systems part by part rather than through long enterprise contracts. (europesays.com) TrendForce said consumer DRAM buyers were concentrating on low-cost, high-volume products with thin margins, while OEMs with lower allocation fulfillment rates were being forced to buy at higher prices. That supply pattern helps explain why mainstream gaming and DIY segments can feel pressure even when AI servers are the part of the market drawing the most attention. (europesays.com) ### Where does ASUS's new RTX 5090 fit into this? ASUS said on May 14 that it had introduced the ProArt GeForce RTX 5090, a creator-focused card built on NVIDIA Blackwell architecture with 32GB of GDDR7 memory. ASUS said the card delivers 3,352 AI TOPs, uses a 2.5-slot design, and targets creators, AI developers and small-form-factor PC enthusiasts. (trendforce.com) The launch gives a concrete example of how top-end PC hardware is being marketed in 2026. ASUS described the product in terms of AI acceleration, local large-language-model workloads and content creation, alongside 4K gaming support. ### What should builders watch next? The second quarter of 2026 is the next key checkpoint for component buyers because TrendForce expects both DRAM and NAND contract prices to keep climbing during that period. (press.asus.com) The firm projected conventional DRAM prices would rise 58% to 63% quarter-on-quarter and NAND Flash prices 70% to 75% in 2Q26 as AI and data-center demand stayed strong. ASUS's ProArt GeForce RTX 5090 is already in the market following its May 14 announcement, and Tom's Hardware's May 16 survey offers an early read on how buyers are responding to those conditions. The next signs of whether DIY demand improves are likely to come from component pricing updates, motherboard shipment reports and retailer listings through the rest of 2026. (press.asus.com) (trendforce.com)