Topic: component shortages
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AI data centers drain capacitors carmakers need
Chinese automakers face a 20-30% global shortage of PCBs and MLCCs, driven by AI data center demand, with prices more than tripling in the past year. Automotive memory chip prices have surged ~180% in one quarter, as the AI sector outbids the auto industry for critical electronic components. The ...
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Framework hikes RAM and storage costs once more
Framework has raised prices for RAM and storage modules for the fourth consecutive month, citing persistent supply chain shortages from its component suppliers. These component cost increases have directly led to higher prices for the Framework Desktop and several pre-configured laptop models, in...
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Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo slash 2026 smartphone targets again: sources
Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have cut their 2026 shipment forecasts by up to 30% due to rising component costs and shortages, with Xiaomi’s revised target at 150 million units. The global smartphone market is expected to contract by 2% to 3% in 2026, as sluggish demand in Chin...
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Why Now Is a Bad Time to Buy a New Computer
A severe shortage of memory and components, dubbed "RAMaggeddon," is driving PC, tablet, and gaming rig prices sharply higher, with no relief expected soon. Valve's new Steam Machine, while offering PS5-level performance, starts at $1,049 due to the component crunch, nearly double the cost of a s...
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RAMageddon Crisis Hits Retro Handheld Makers Including Evercade
Blaze Entertainment, maker of the Evercade retro console, is hoarding components years ahead due to a severe memory chip shortage ("RAMageddon") driven by AI industry demand, having already secured cartridge chips for 2027. The supply chain crisis has caused RAM and cartridge chip costs to skyroc...
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Mac Studio Delayed Until October
The next-generation Mac Studio featuring the M5 chip is now expected to launch in October, a delay of several months from earlier internal targets. The current Mac Studio and other desktop models are facing severe shortages and long shipping delays due to broad supply chain constraints, not an im...
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RAM Crisis Delays Steam Machine and Steam Frame
A global shortage of memory and storage components, driven by AI industry demand, is causing delays and pricing uncertainty for Valve's Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Valve has officially confirmed it cannot yet provide final pricing or a launch schedule, as it must reassess its strategy due to v...
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Mac Shortages: Which Models Are Affected and Where It’s Getting Worse
Apple's Mac lineup is experiencing a strong resurgence driven by the new low-cost MacBook Neo, which is attracting many first-time buyers, but this momentum is hindered by persistent supply constraints and significantly higher RAM costs. The company faces a less flexible supply chain than usual, ...
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Refresh Your PC on a Budget: A New Case Makes All the Difference
Upgrading your PC case is a cost-effective way to refresh your entire setup, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional benefits without needing new core components. A new case can significantly improve system performance by enhancing internal airflow, which lowers temperatures for better comp...
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AI Drives First Gaming Price Increase of 2026
Asus has announced major price increases for 2026, directly attributing them to soaring AI demand, which is creating supply gaps and inflating costs for essential components like DRAM and SSDs. The AI-driven component shortage is so severe it may delay the release of next-generation consoles, suc...
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Investors Want Nintendo to Raise Switch 2 Price Amid Global Turmoil
Nintendo's stock has dropped sharply from its August 2025 peak due to AI data centers driving up hardware component costs and Strait of Hormuz disruptions squeezing global trade. Investors are pressuring Nintendo to raise the Switch 2's $450 price, as it is sold at a loss, following Sony's PS5 pr...
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AMD data center surges as gaming revenue slips
AMD's data center revenue reached $6.7 billion in the latest quarter, more than doubling year-over-year (up 107%), and CEO Lisa Su projects this segment will more than double again in 2027. Gaming revenue fell 31% year-over-year to $779 million, due to price increases and component shortages affe...
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RAMageddon crisis intensifies with new developments
Apple's price increases across Macs, iPads, HomePods, and the Vision Pro signal that a global RAM shortage, dubbed "RAMageddon," is a serious and ongoing crisis. Historically, Apple could absorb supply chain shocks due to high margins and purchasing power, but its current sweeping price hikes ind...
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Prebuilt PCs Now Sold Without RAM Due to High Prices
A PC builder, Paradox Customs, is selling desktops without installed RAM, a direct response to prohibitively high memory prices, allowing customers to use their own or separately sourced modules to save money. This unusual strategy highlights how soaring DDR5 memory costs have become a major barr...
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Apple orders 10M foldable iPhone Ultras, likely priced at $2500
Apple has increased its foldable iPhone Ultra production target to approximately 10 million units, a third higher than earlier projections of 7-8 million. Combined production for the foldable iPhone, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max totals roughly 80 million units for the second half of 2026,...
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Next Console Generation Could End Physical Media’s Comeback
The next generation of consoles (PS6 and Xbox Project Helix) is expected within a few years, featuring typical hardware upgrades, but both Sony and Microsoft should preserve the 4K Blu-ray disc drive. A disc drive ensures backward compatibility with older physical games, a key feature that both c...
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DDR5 RAM Prices Drop: Corsair 32GB Vengeance Kit Hits New Low
A high-performance Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB memory kit is now discounted to $344, offering a rare price drop in a market under intense pressure. The primary driver for historically high RAM prices is massive demand from AI data center construction, which is consuming supply and expected to kee...
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GPU Prices Set to Skyrocket in 2026, AMD and Nvidia Warn
AMD and Nvidia are planning significant, sustained price increases for graphics cards, starting in early 2025, driven primarily by soaring memory costs and high demand from AI data centers. The insatiable hardware demand from AI companies, like OpenAI, is creating a supply squeeze, allowing manuf...
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Meta Raises Quest 3 and Quest 3S Prices
Meta is raising the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S VR headsets, citing increased costs for memory chips as the primary reason. This price hike reflects broader global supply chain challenges, showing that even major tech companies face macroeconomic pressures affecting component costs. The ne...
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Apple’s rumored ‘Upgrade’ program brings lease-to-own pricing for iPhones, Macs, and iPads
Apple is launching an "Apple Upgrade" program on July 28th, functioning like a car lease to allow customers to upgrade early, keep, or return devices, with Klarna as the financial partner and requiring a soft credit check. The program offers 24-month leases for iPhones and Apple Watches, and 36-m...
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