PCB Shortage to 2030: Will GPU and PC Prices Keep Rising?
A new Nikkei Asia report, covered by Tom's Hardware, TechSpot and TechPowerUp, says the AI server boom has reached the printed circuit board. PC makers are struggling to secure boards, lead times on some designs have stretched to 30 months, and one key laminate supplier is reportedly booked into 2030. Here is what is confirmed, what is not, and what it means for gamers buying GPUs and motherboards.
- Some PCB lead times are up to 30 months; an order placed today may not arrive until late 2028, per Nikkei's sources.
- Copper clad laminate (CCL) costs are at least 12 times what they were in July, according to a Taiwanese PC maker.
- A leading laminate supplier says its order book runs into 2030 despite plans to triple capacity by 2028.
- No vendor has put a number on retail price rises yet.
What is the PCB shortage?
Every graphics card, motherboard and laptop is built on a printed circuit board. AI servers need boards with far more layers (Würth Elektronik told Digitec three to five times as many as conventional boards), plus lots of copper and specialised fibreglass. Material makers are shifting capacity to those more profitable AI products, leaving consumer electronics waiting.
How bad are the lead times?
Per Nikkei's reporting, one board maker said lead times on a large share of its products have doubled, and another said a fresh order would not arrive until late 2028. An unnamed manager at a US PC maker said PCBs have become a critical bottleneck for 2027 planning, even though PC shipments may fall again next year.
Will GPU and motherboard prices go up?
Likely pressure, but not quantified. TweakTown notes that no vendor has given a retail price figure, so a specific increase is not established. Digital Citizen also cautions that the report does not prove all PCB capacity is booked until 2030; it describes some suppliers. This lands on top of existing increases: our RTX 5090 discontinuation piece and the best GPU under ₹50,000 guide cover how memory costs have already pushed prices up.
What does it mean for buyers in India?
Nothing in the sources is specific to India, so treat this as a risk rather than a forecast. If you already planned a build, waiting for a hoped-for price drop looks riskier than usual. Check current deals on our deals page.
Could the next-gen GPUs be affected?
PCMag cites a report from The Information that Nvidia may push its RTX 60 series to 2028, and Nvidia has called supply "very tight". That is a separate, unconfirmed report; see our RTX 60 delay explainer.
What should gamers do now?
- Buy only what you need this year; do not count on price relief in 2027.
- Prioritise the GPU and RAM, whose prices have already climbed.
- Prefer reputable sellers with warranty over scarce grey-market stock.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the PCB shortage expected to last?
Reports say some suppliers are booked into 2030 and some orders placed now may not arrive until late 2028. Capacity expansions are planned for 2028.
Have GPU prices gone up because of PCBs?
Not yet confirmed. Recent GPU rises are mainly tied to memory costs; PCB costs add future pressure, and no vendor has quantified it.
Is it true all PCB capacity is sold out until 2030?
No. One laminate supplier says its order book runs into 2030; the report does not show all capacity is booked.
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