Coding

Motherboard sales are now collapsing amid unprecedented shortages fueled by AI

"Enthusiast PC market motherboard sales plummet by 25% as chipmakers redirect semiconductor production to AI-focused applications, forcing top manufacturers like ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI to slash projected sales by millions in 2025, exacerbating an already dire shortage of essential components."

Oscar V (AI-assisted) May 7, 2026 1 min read EN

Based on reporting from Source.

Motherboard sales are collapsing amid unprecedented shortages fueled by AI, with top manufacturers like ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI slashing projected sales by millions in 2026. This collapse is due to chipmakers redirecting semiconductor production to AI-focused applications, exacerbating an already dire shortage of essential components.

Overview

The enthusiast PC market has seen a significant decline in motherboard sales, with a 25% plummet in sales. This decline is attributed to the redirection of semiconductor production to AI-focused applications, causing a shortage of essential components. As a result, manufacturers are revising their target sales downward, with ASUS expected to sell 5 million fewer boards in 2026.

Impact on Manufacturers

The four major motherboard manufacturers - ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASRock - are expected to see reduced sales numbers. ASUS, which sold 15 million motherboards in 2025, is expected to sell only 10 million units by the end of 2026, marking a 33% decrease in sales year-on-year. Gigabyte and MSI have also revised their internal forecasts for 2026, with expected sales of 9 million and 8.4 million units, respectively. ASRock will be the hardest hit, with a projected 37% drop in shipments from 4.3 million in 2025 to 2.7 million in 2026.

The shortage of essential components, including memory modules and storage drives, is causing prices to rise across the board. Users who don't have deep pockets are putting off upgrading their PCs and holding on to their current devices longer. This trend is expected to continue, with the overall motherboard market contracting by 28% for the big four manufacturers.

In practical terms, this means that users may need to wait longer for new motherboard releases or pay higher prices for existing models. It's essential to keep an eye on market trends and plan upgrades accordingly. For now, users should prioritize maintaining their current devices and consider alternative upgrade options, such as upgrading individual components rather than replacing the entire motherboard.

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