Motherboard sales 'collapse' amid unprecedented shortages fueled by AI

AI chip demand is dramatically disrupting the consumer PC market, with motherboard sales declining 22-37% across major manufacturers as chipmakers prioritize AI processor production over consumer components, driving up PC component prices and delaying upgrade cycles. This market contraction presents both a challenge and opportunity for IT organizations: while consumer PC refresh cycles will extend, creating potential budget relief in the short term, enterprise infrastructure investments in AI-capable systems will intensify, requiring strategic planning for AI workload support and data center modernization. IT leaders should anticipate prolonged component shortages, higher acquisition costs for memory and storage, and increased pressure to validate AI infrastructure investments to justify capital expenditures in this evolving landscape.