Key Issue: memory (RAM) scarcity and price increases are considerably impacting the PC gaming market.
Summary: What was once considered a trivial component, memory has become a critical bottleneck in the digital supply chain. production capacity has shifted towards more profitable sectors (like AI data centers),leading to a 25-30% contraction in supply for general markets,particularly affecting PC assemblers,and especially those focused on gaming. This has caused prices to surge, in some cases tripling or quadrupling in days.
Impact on PC Gaming Assemblers
- Economic Disruption: The volatile pricing and availability disrupt the assemblers’ business model, which relies on precise quotes and optimized configurations.
- Reduced Margins: Assemblers operate on thin margins and are heavily reliant on consistent component flows.
- Customer Sensitivity: gaming customers are well-informed, compare prices, and are resistant to unexplained cost increases.
- Compromises & volume Reduction: Assemblers are being forced to reduce volumes or offer less desirable technical compromises.
- Long-Term Threat: The situation threatens the overall attractiveness of PC gaming.
Supply & Demand dynamics
Despite continued demand for gaming PCs (driven by e-sport, streaming, and console renewal slowdowns), memory manufacturers are prioritizing higher-margin contracts with AI data centers. This shift leaves the PC and mobile markets underserved.
Price Increase Examples (Estimated)
| Component | Price Increase (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| Certain Memory Modules | 3x - 4x original price |
| Gaming PC Configurations (overall) | 1,500 – 2,000 Dirhams increase |
Assembler Quote: “The problem is not just an increase in costs,it is indeed a crisis of visibility… We cannot easily explain to him why a configuration suddenly costs 1,500 or 2,000 dirhams more without any apparent change.” – Tarik, PC Gaming Assembler
