Report says motherboard manufacturers are in crisis as builders aren’t building new rigs as much anymore
According to a Digitimes report, the motherboard manufacturing industry is facing a severe crisis. Major manufacturers including MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock are projected to experience significant sales declines in 2026. The report describes the situation as a “collapse” that surpasses previous financial downturns and even the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in severity.
The crisis stems from multiple factors affecting the PC hardware ecosystem. A memory crisis has impacted hardware availability and pricing across the industry. Additionally, geopolitical tensions, including the Iran war, have disrupted global supply chains. However, the most significant factor is a decline in PC system builds by enthusiasts and professionals. As fewer custom PC builds are being assembled, demand for motherboards—a core component of any new system—has correspondingly decreased.
This downturn in custom PC building has created a cascading effect throughout the industry. Motherboard manufacturers depend heavily on the enthusiast and builder market, so reduced system construction translates directly to reduced motherboard sales. The report’s characterization of the situation as worse than previous financial crises underscores the severity of the current market conditions. This decline affects not only motherboard makers but reverberates through the entire PC component supply chain, as reduced demand impacts related hardware manufacturers and retailers.