PC components have significantly increased in price in 2026: RAM by 90–95%, and storage drives by 55–60%. If you are currently planning to buy graphics cards, RAM, or SSDs, the forecast from the CompX computer hardware store will help you better plan your budget. We analyze what might happen with component prices by the end of the year.
Why has computer hardware become more expensive?
Main reasons:
- AI boom. Data centers are not only buying up existing stock but also contracting future production of computer hardware.
- Production dynamics. Factories are pivoting to produce HBM memory for data centers, pushing standard RAM into the background.
- Currencies and logistics. Suppliers face risks and are forced to use longer routes, while Ukrainian computer stores are confronted with sharp exchange rate fluctuations.
The situation is not new. However, sharp changes in demand are currently coinciding with global instability and negative economic forecasts. Therefore, prices are rising more sharply than previously predicted.
Why do prices continue to rise?
Prices in retail computer hardware stores rise more smoothly and slowly. It can take months for a price increase to travel from raw materials to the finished product.
Therefore, we are currently still seeing the consequences of the situation that developed in mid-to-late 2025:
- demand grew faster than predicted. AI companies showed high growth dynamics and released advanced LLMs;
- the geopolitical situation escalated sharply. Logistics routes passing through the Middle East changed. Pressure on Taiwanese chip manufacturers intensified. Economic growth forecasts worsened;
- a real shortage emerged. Many large buyers began purchasing computer hardware in advance, finally "breaking" the unbalanced market.
Consequently, online computer hardware stores in Ukraine and Europe are increasing prices in accordance with supply conditions. They are doing this gradually to avoid shocking customers and to maintain demand, which is why the cost of components continues to rise.
What is the price forecast until the end of 2026?
Experts from the CompX computer hardware store provided their vision of the situation:
- realistic. Approximately +10% for pre-built PCs by the end of the year. RAM (+5–15%), SSDs (up to 20%), and graphics cards with large VRAM capacity (+10%) will see the highest price increases. If you plan to buy a PC for QHD/4K gaming or a workstation, it is better to do it now without waiting for "Black Friday";
- pessimistic. Up to +20–25% in December 2026 compared to May. If manufacturers do not compensate for the RAM shortage and buyers continue to apply pressure, RAM prices could rise by another 50%. Other components will follow—then even cases and power supplies will become more expensive;
- optimistic. +5% on average during June–December 2026. In this scenario, prices will peak in October-November and begin to decline toward the end of the year. Memory, storage, and graphics cards will increase in price by 5–15%, which will raise the average cost of a PC build.
Forecasts from Ukrainian and international experts confirm—if you want to buy computer hardware, you should do it now. Even in optimistic scenarios, prices will continue to rise until the end of 2026.