If you have planning to buy new Radeon GPU in 2026, there is news that affect your budget. AMD announced 10% price increase across most of its Radeon lineup. This is mainly due to shortage of DRAM & GDDR memory, which driven up production costs. Gamers & PC builders will feel the impact, so it is worth understanding why this is happening & what it mean for next build.
Why Radeon Prices are Going Up
The main reason behind the Radeon price hike is simple: memory is more expensive. Demand for DRAM & GDDR6 has been rising steadily, especially from sectors that need high performance memory. As memory becomes harder to source, AMD has no choice but to pass the extra cost to customers.
Additionally, limited production means fewer GPUs are available, which naturally increases prices. Analysts expect these higher costs to continue well into 2026, so this is not a short term fluctuation itโs likely the โnew normalโ for GPU pricing.
Which GPUs are Most Affected
The price increase affect nearly entire Radeon lineup, with RX 9000 Series taking biggest hit.
While some older stock may still sell at previous prices, most new shipments will reflect the updated pricing. For gamers & PC builders, this means acting sooner rather than later might save money.
AMD Radeon vs NVIDIA in 2026
Competition with NVIDIA continues to shape the market. First, NVIDIA GPUs also face higher DRAM costs. Then, price adjustments are appearing across multiple GPU tiers. Moreover, AMD Radeon cards remain competitive in multi-core & AI workloads. In addition, NVIDIA retains advantages in ray tracing & AI features for gaming. Therefore, comparing benchmarks is crucial. Thus, choosing between AMD & NVIDIA depends on performance needs & budget.
What This Means for Gamers & Builders
First, budgets will need adjusting. A build last year easily in 2026 if include a new Radeon GPU.
Second, alternative like older GPUs or integrated graphics become more attractive for budget conscious users.
Third, high end & mid range builds could be pushed even higher in price. Planning your build carefully & considering alternative will help avoid surprises.
Tips to Handle the Price Hike
- Buy sooner: If you need GPU, purchasing now could save you money.
- Look at older models: Older Radeon even some NVIDIA GPUs may offer similar performance at lower costs.
- Monitor memory prices: DRAM & GDDR6 trend hint at future GPU pricing.
- Plan your budget: Expect higher total costs for builds that include GPU, RAM & other components.
About Jazz Cyber Shield
Jazz Cyber Shield is a tech platform dedicated to helping people understand hardware & PC building. We focus on providing clear, reliable & up-to-date guides. Our goal to make technology simple, whether you a beginner building your first PC or an experienced user looking for latest insights.
Conclusion
AMD Radeon GPUs now 10% more expensive due to AI DRAM crisis. First, limited supply & high demand push price upward. Then, gamers & PC builder plan purchase carefully. Moreover, NVIDIA face similar pricing pressures. In addition, monitoring market trends helps buyer choose wisely. Therefore, understanding AI DRAM situation is essential.
