Motherboard Prices May Rise Again as PCB Costs Climb Up to 50%
According to a Chinese industry forum, motherboard production costs have risen by at least 10%, with PCBs up 15–50%, capacitors up 50%, and Wi-Fi modules up 10–20%. August price increases by manufacturers averaged only 3%, suggesting further increases are likely. MSI raised prices across its lineup, while ASUS and Gigabyte targeted select models. The figures are not official but have been independently corroborated by multiple outlets.
Related Tech News
AI CuratedGoPro says it’s still committed ‘to your collective stoke’
In a letter to customers, GoPro CEO Nick Woodman states that making cameras is still the company's 'core DNA' following the announcement of a $285 million acquisition by Starman. He claims the merger will strengthen GoPro's ability to develop content creation tech and address national security areas related to cameras, optics, and AI infrastructure. The letter does not mention YouTuber Markiplier, GoPro's largest individual shareholder.
Frontier AI faces pricing reckoning as token volume explodes 25-fold — mid-tier models deliver 90% of flagship capability at one-sixth the cost
This article examines the current state of AI model pricing and intelligence, highlighting that while frontier models like Anthropic's Claude Fable 5.1 remain top performers, their cost is significantly higher than mid-tier models on the Pareto frontier. Data from Artificial Analysis and OpenRouter shows that models like Gemini 3.8 Flash and GPT 5.6 Sol achieve nearly the same intelligence scores at a fraction of the cost. Token usage has exploded 25x year-over-year, driven by affordable models, while expensive frontier models see minimal usage. The piece discusses the economic implications and Jevons paradox in AI.
ASUS’ Official Vendors Are Listing NUC PCs With 96GB RAM Models At Incredibly Affordable Prices, But Fail To Mention That Memory Or Storage Aren’t Included To Deceive Buyers
A Reddit user discovered that official ASUS vendors on Amazon Italy are listing NUC PCs with 96GB of DDR5 RAM at incredibly affordable prices. However, closer inspection reveals these are barebone units that do not include any memory or storage. The listings are intentionally deceptive, as customers assume the RAM is included. The article highlights the questionable sales tactics in the current consumer DRAM market, where prices are volatile. The story is based on a Reddit post and Wccftech's investigation.
CXMT allegedly used a written roadmap to steal Samsung DRAM tech — South Korean court says 'Project Hefei' lifted 620-step recipe to build 10% global market share
A detailed report from Tom's Hardware covers the ongoing South Korean court case alleging Chinese DRAM maker CXMT systematically stole Samsung's trade secrets. The leaked 'Project Hefei' roadmap includes a 620-step manufacturing process, personnel poaching, and production targets. CXMT's DRAM market share grew from 4% to 10% in Q2 2025, with revenue up 716% and a record IPO. Samsung's damages are estimated at tens of trillions of won. The article is well-sourced with court documents and expert analysis, making it a high-quality industry report.
