If it feels like servers and PCs are suddenly more expensive than they were just a year ago, you’re not imagining it. At Ironside, we’ve been seeing consistent price increases across business hardware — and this isn’t a short-term fluctuation.
What’s driving it is a fundamental shift in how memory is being produced and allocated across the tech industry. Understanding what’s happening behind the scenes can help businesses make smarter infrastructure decisions and avoid budget surprises.
What’s Actually Driving Higher Server and PC Prices
The biggest factor behind rising hardware costs is the explosive growth of AI infrastructure. Modern AI systems rely heavily on advanced memory technologies like High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and enterprise-grade DRAM. As AI adoption accelerates, manufacturers are prioritizing these components because they command higher margins.
That focus has a ripple effect. With more memory being diverted to AI data centers, there’s less supply available for traditional business hardware. The result is a supply squeeze that pushes up prices for everyday servers and PCs.
Industry analysts report that DRAM prices climbed roughly 50% during 2025, with additional increases projected into late 2025 and early 2026. In some cases, specific memory modules now cost double what they did earlier this year. These increases flow directly into the price of finished hardware.
What This Means for Business IT Budgets
Higher component costs translate into higher purchase prices and longer lead times. Vendors have less flexibility to discount, and popular configurations sell out faster than expected.
For businesses, this makes routine refresh cycles more expensive than they used to be. Organizations running virtualized environments, analytics platforms, or memory-intensive applications feel the impact most — but even standard office PCs are affected.
We’re also seeing increased costs around AI-capable server configurations, but no category of business hardware is fully insulated from the memory market pressures.
Practical Ways to Stay Ahead of the Market
While pricing pressure is real, there are smart ways to manage it. At Ironside, we’re helping clients stay proactive with strategies such as:
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Reassessing upgrade timing
Advancing planned purchases may help avoid further price increases. -
Focusing on mission-critical systems
Prioritize infrastructure that directly supports revenue, security, and uptime. -
Extending hardware life where possible
Strategic memory or storage upgrades can delay full replacements. -
Exploring alternatives
Refurbished hardware, secondary market options, or cloud workloads can reduce capital spend for non-critical systems. -
Building flexibility into budgets
Planning for a 15–25% buffer in 2026 hardware budgets helps absorb volatility.
Planning for a Tighter Hardware Landscape
Most analysts expect AI-driven demand for memory to remain strong, which means pressure on server and PC pricing isn’t likely to ease soon.
For business leaders, the key is awareness and planning. Knowing why costs are rising — and adjusting IT strategies accordingly — can prevent rushed purchases and unexpected expenses.
At Ironside, we work closely with our clients to plan infrastructure decisions with these market realities in mind, helping them stay secure, productive, and financially prepared despite a changing hardware landscape.
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