MSI calls 2026 the most challenging year ever — prices up 30%

DRAM and NAND spot prices broke; MSI is passing the bill straight to the consumer. The midrange just got squeezed by both ends.

MSI told distributors that 2026 is the most challenging year ever and confirmed price increases of up to 30% across motherboards, prebuilt desktops and the AIO line. DRAM is the main driver: spot DDR5 8GB module pricing is up 162% YTD, and NAND is following six weeks behind.

Pass-through is brutal at the mid-range. A B650 board that retailed at $179 in Q4 2025 is now stickered at $229. The flagship X870E line is up less in percentage terms but more in dollar terms — a $549 board is now a $639 board. The squeeze sorts winners across the full PC gaming budget set.