Danny Weber
06:42 28-12-2025
© A. Krivonosov
Expect gradual GPU price hikes in 2026 as AMD and NVIDIA pass on soaring DRAM and VRAM costs. See how AIB partners and memory prices push graphics cards up.
The graphics card market may be headed for a fresh wave of price hikes as early as the beginning of 2026. Sources indicate that AMD and NVIDIA are preparing to raise GPU prices, with increases potentially rolling out for several consecutive months. What sounded like rumor not long ago now comes with clearer timelines and specifics.
AMD is expected to move first, in January. Its new lineup had only just edged closer to suggested pricing, but that could change quickly. Partner-built AIB versions are likely to get more expensive right at the start of the year, followed by further step-ups. NVIDIA, according to the same reports, plans to begin its own increases in February, although some brands already made small adjustments in December.
The main driver is memory costs. Together, the GPU and video memory account for up to 80% of a board partner’s cost, and prices for DRAM and VRAM have jumped severalfold in recent months. With DDR5 and other memory types growing more expensive across the board, holding the line on pricing gets harder—pressure that flows straight through to what buyers pay at checkout.
Formally, pricing decisions rest with AMD and NVIDIA’s partners, but as procurement costs rise, alternatives are thin on the ground. Overpriced RTX 50-series models are already appearing, and flagship cards could eventually sell at multiples of their recommended price points.
If these projections hold, 2026 could become one of the toughest years for GPU buyers in a while. The climb looks gradual yet persistent—enough to make a PC upgrade feel less like routine maintenance and more like a splurge.