• 2 min read
AI demand pushes up gaming PC prices
AI infrastructure is pushing up DRAM and gaming PC prices in Russia, forcing esports clubs to delay full upgrades and plan purchases earlier.
Image: ITzine
The surge in artificial intelligence demand is now affecting gaming PCs as well as servers. In Russia, components for esports machines are becoming more expensive, while deliveries take longer because memory and other parts are being purchased for data centers, according to Grigory Gordienko, director of the Mayak Arena esports hub.
There is no outright shortage: almost everything remains available. The difference is the price, along with less predictable purchasing timelines. DRAM, or dynamic random-access memory, has risen noticeably since the end of 2025. Gordienko attributes the increase not to logistics or sanctions, but to demand shifting toward AI infrastructure.
Why AI is affecting gaming PCs
Gaming clubs now compete for components with individual buyers, PC builders, and companies expanding neural-network server capacity. Large data-center orders are generally more attractive to manufacturers and distributors, leaving retail buyers with higher prices and less certain delivery dates.
The pressure is especially visible in memory. DRAM is used in both gaming systems and servers, but server purchases are typically larger and more profitable for suppliers. The market saw a similar imbalance in 2022–2023, when prices jumped because of supply problems and broader turbulence. The current pressure comes from expanding AI computing capacity, which is competing with the consumer market for the same memory modules.
Gordienko said clubs in 2026 must track exchange rates more closely and plan purchases in advance. For businesses operating large fleets of machines, that means longer upgrade cycles. Rather than replacing entire systems, cyber arenas are increasingly opting for targeted upgrades to spread budgets over time.
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A professional gaming PC already costs hundreds of thousands of rubles, according to Gordienko. If prices continue rising, upgrades will be approached even more cautiously, especially by clubs that need to refresh dozens of gaming stations at once.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via ITzine
