The ongoing AI Chip Shortage is now severely affecting the global PC hardware industry, with major motherboard manufacturers including ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte reportedly facing significant declines in shipments and sales during 2026. Industry reports suggest the growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is diverting semiconductor production away from consumer PC hardware, creating shortages and price increases across the market.
According to recent supply chain reports, motherboard sales among the world’s top manufacturers are expected to decline by nearly 28 percent this year. ASUS alone is projected to record a massive 33 percent drop in motherboard shipments compared to 2025 figures. The company reportedly shipped just over five million motherboards during the first half of 2026 and may struggle to cross the 10 million mark by year-end.
Meanwhile, Gigabyte and MSI are also revising their shipment targets downward due to weaker consumer demand and rising component costs. Reports indicate Gigabyte may face a 22 percent decline, while MSI could see shipments fall by nearly 24 percent compared to last year.
Industry analysts say the rapid expansion of AI data centers and generative AI technologies is consuming a massive share of global semiconductor production capacity. Companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel are prioritizing high-margin AI chips and server processors over traditional consumer hardware. This shift has reduced the availability of memory modules, SSDs, CPUs, and other components used in gaming PCs and desktop systems.
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The rising prices of RAM, storage drives, and processors have forced many consumers to delay PC upgrades and continue using older systems for longer periods. Analysts believe the DIY PC-building market is currently experiencing one of its worst slowdowns in years.
Reports also suggest that motherboard manufacturers are increasingly shifting focus toward AI servers and enterprise infrastructure to offset losses from declining consumer hardware sales. AI-related business segments are now becoming a major revenue source for companies traditionally dependent on gaming and enthusiast PC components.
Experts warn that if semiconductor shortages continue through 2027, consumers could face even higher prices for laptops, gaming PCs, graphics cards, and storage products. Some analysts believe affordable entry-level PCs and laptops may gradually disappear as manufacturers prioritize premium and enterprise-focused hardware categories.
Despite the slowdown in consumer hardware sales, the AI industry continues experiencing explosive growth worldwide. The increasing global investment in AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and data centers is expected to keep pressure on semiconductor supply chains for the foreseeable future.
