Cpu and motherboard sales plunge as hardware shortages worsen

The global tech industry is reeling from a perfect storm of shortages that shows no signs of abating - and it's not just RAM and SSDs anymore.

Component chaos

While the scarcity of DRAM, DDR5, SSDs, and HDDs has been the dominant narrative for months, a new wave of component price hikes and extended lead times is sending shockwaves through the supply chain.

As a result, many hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts who planned to build their own custom PCs are holding off, opting to wait out the hardware drought rather than shell out exorbitantprices for essential components like CPUs and motherboards.

According to German retail giant MindFactory, sales of these key components have plummeted dramatically in the first half of 2026, with a staggering 25-fold decrease in motherboard sales compared to the same period last year.