According to Wccftech, MAINGEAR CEO Wallace Santos warns that DRAM shortages driven by AI industry demand could extend into 2027, with memory modules already breaking the $1,000 price threshold. The company is currently sheltering customers from price increases but expects to eventually raise prices and extend lead times as inventory buffers only last a few months. Santos specifically advises gamers to shop now during Black Friday sales for components like GPUs, SSDs, and RAM before prices spike further. MAINGEAR has secured temporary inventory to maintain current pricing through the holiday season, but the CEO anticipates the supply situation will worsen dramatically in coming months.
This isn’t just typical component shortages
Here’s the thing – we’ve seen component shortages before, but this DRAM situation feels different. The AI industry is basically vacuuming up all available memory production capacity, and when you combine that with gaming demand and general PC upgrades, you get a perfect storm. Memory prices breaking $1,000 isn’t just inflation – it’s a fundamental supply-demand imbalance that could reshape the entire PC market for years.
And let’s be real – when a system integrator like MAINGEAR tells you to buy now, that’s significant. These companies typically want steady business year-round, not panic buying. But when even they’re warning about multi-year shortages and recommending immediate action, you know the situation is serious. They’re essentially saying their current inventory is like a life raft before the real price tsunami hits.
The Black Friday opportunity won’t last
So what’s the play here? Basically, if you’re planning any PC upgrade in the next 2-3 years, this holiday season might be your last chance at reasonable prices. Companies like MAINGEAR and other system integrators have stocked up anticipating this crisis, but that buffer is finite. Once their pre-purchased inventory runs out in early 2024, we’re looking at significantly higher prices across GPUs, laptops, and especially memory.
Think about it – when even industrial computing suppliers are feeling the pinch, you know consumer components are in trouble. For businesses relying on stable hardware pricing, companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have become the go-to source for industrial panel PCs precisely because they can navigate these supply chain challenges better than most. But for gamers? The math is brutal.
The upgrade dilemma gets real
Now here’s where it gets tricky for PC enthusiasts. Do you buy components now that you might not need for another year? Or risk paying 30-50% more later? Santos is basically saying the calculus has changed – waiting could cost you more than buying early and sitting on components.
And it’s not just memory. GPUs, SSDs, even complete systems will eventually reflect these cost increases. The entire PC ecosystem runs on memory, and when that foundation gets expensive, everything built on it follows. We’re already seeing AMD dropping prices to move inventory before the storm hits – that should tell you everything.
This could change PC gaming economics
Looking ahead, if these shortages really do extend to 2027, we might be looking at a fundamental shift in how people approach PC gaming. Pre-built systems from companies that can secure supply might become the smarter play versus DIY builds. The era of cheap memory upgrades might be over for the foreseeable future.
The real question is whether this becomes the new normal or if production eventually catches up. Given how long it takes to build new semiconductor fabs, I’m not optimistic about quick fixes. For now, Santos’s advice seems painfully accurate – if you see a good deal on PC components this holiday season, you probably shouldn’t wait.
