Acer and ASUS are now preparing for an extensive hike in PC products, as it is the only remaining option for manufacturers to combat the DRAM supply constraints.
Acer is Looking to Adjust RAM Configurations in PC Products to Minimize the Impact of Memory Shortages
The supply chain has now begun to react to the memory shortages, and the AI sector is consuming a significant portion of DRAM production lines. In a previous report, we discussed how Dell had been preparing to increase product pricing by a substantial margin, which included a rise in base prices as well as the costs of upgrading RAM configurations. According to the Taiwan Economic Daily, Acer and ASUS are expected to respond to supply chain constraints by increasing prices, which could impact both enterprise and consumer PCs.
Acer's Chairman, Jason Chen, has disclosed that moving into Q1 2026, the PC pricing structure would be a lot more difficult compared to the previous quarters, as he associates this with how DRAM prices have risen by 50% in just a few weeks, and this has affected the BoM (Bill of Materials) for several products within Acer's portfolio. However, Chen did avoid speculating on how the price hike might play out, as he claims that finished goods take time to arrive at their destination, and sometimes this can take up to months. And based on the current situation, DRAM prices are changing by the day, not the week.
Interestingly, Acer's Chairman has stated that the supply chain shouldn't aggressively impose price increases on consumer products; instead, manufacturers should maintain a diverse portfolio to ensure they can react to such situations with resilience. He then mentions that Acer's consumer division accounts for only 50% of the company's total sales, with the remaining figure coming from industrial and AI-focused systems. Yet, despite such a structure, Acer cannot avoid rising product prices, as the situation has become dire.
We mentioned in a recent report that companies are planning to shift towards 8 GB as the baseline configuration for mid-range laptops. It appears that Acer's CEO has validated this claim, stating that this could be one way manufacturers might counter DRAM shortages without raising prices too much. Based on what we are seeing, the PC supply chain is heading into a time of uncertainity and price hikes, which could be a troublesome period for consumers.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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