The main reason is the rapidly growing demand for AI solutions. Global semiconductor factories are operating at their limits. Large technology companies are massively ordering expensive and high-margin AI accelerators.
Because of this, production capacities previously directed towards ordinary processors are taking a back seat. The limited supply of "ordinary" chips will inevitably lead to price increases.
For gamers, this means a return to the times of the video card market crisis. Building a PC will become noticeably more expensive. Users have already faced "RAMageddon," a sharp increase in memory and SSD prices.
Now the "brain of the computer" is also becoming an expensive commodity. The problem affects not only PCs – the rising cost of components has already impacted console prices and even the development timeline for PlayStation 6, which may be postponed to 2028–2029.
For those who planned an upgrade, now is the last chance to buy components at more or less reasonable prices.