AI Surge Pushes RTX 5090 GPU Prices to $5000 in 2026 Leaks Reveal
As gaming enthusiasts face an affordability crisis, recent leaks indicate significant price hikes for GPUs are on the horizon. Increased demand for AI-capable graphics processing units (GPUs) and DDR5 memory is driving this upward trend in costs, with further changes expected in 2026.
Projected GPU Price Increases for 2026
Korean publication Newsis reports that AMD and NVIDIA plan to raise GPU prices starting in early 2026. This shift could have serious implications for gamers and the overall hardware market.
Details of Price Hikes
- AMD Price Increase: Expected to begin in January 2026.
- NVIDIA Price Increase: Scheduled for February 2026.
- RTX 5090 Pricing: Forecasted to rise from its launch price of $1,999 to approximately $5,000.
These increases reflect broader trends in the market, where memory costs contribute to the overall bill of materials (BOM) for GPUs. Reports indicate that memory could account for up to 80% of these costs.
Anticipated Effects on the Market
- Memory Price Surge: Expected to jump as much as 40% by the second quarter of 2026.
- DRAM Market Instability: Likely to impact the release schedules of upcoming gaming hardware and next-gen consoles.
Additonally, ASUS has disclosed intentions to increase its hardware prices. This decision will take effect in January 2026, coinciding with the anticipated price hikes from both AMD and NVIDIA.
As these developments unfold, gamers and industry insiders will need to stay vigilant about how these changes could affect their purchasing decisions and the future of gaming technology.
