That Hardware Quote Didn’t Change Because of Inflation. It Changed Because Someone Bigger Bought It First…

Microsoft Office
February 6, 2026

Last fall, we put together a server budget for a client as part of their next-year planning. Nothing unusual. They weren’t buying that day; they just wanted a real number for the plan.

Fast forward to when it was time to execute. We refreshed the quote for price and availability, and the cost had jumped more than we’ve seen in a long time. The surprise wasn’t the server itself. It was the memory. The memory portion of the build was up by roughly $10,000 compared to what we expected.

Usually, this stuff moves gradually. This wasn’t gradual. The volatility isn’t new, but the size of the swing is. And when swings get bigger, the buying process gets messier: quote windows get shorter, configs get harder to match, and lead times stretch out.

In this case, memory is one of those unglamorous components that quietly sets the floor price of business hardware. From late 2025 into 2026, memory pricing has been moving up again. Cycles like this are normal. What’s different right now is the scale of the increase, and the reason it may not snap back quickly.

For some context on “scale”: TrendForce’s forecast for conventional memory contract pricing in Q1 2026 moved from +55–60% quarter-over-quarter to as high as +90–95% in an updated outlook. That’s not what every business pays, but it absolutely changes what manufacturers can build, how long quotes stay valid, and what shows up as “available” when you’re ready to order.

The core issue isn’t just “prices went up.” It’s allocation. A growing share of global memory production is being spoken for by buyers who place massive orders early, especially around AI and large data centres. When those buyers lock in capacity, everyone else is buying from what’s left.

Basically: this isn’t just inflation. It’s capacity getting reserved upstream.

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TLDR

Memory pricing is moving up again, and the swings being discussed are unusually large.
The driver isn’t just cost. It’s allocation to AI and large data centres that lock in supply early.
The impact shows up as shorter quote windows, harder-to-match configurations, and longer lead times.
Planning a little earlier tends to prevent the “why is this different than the budget?” conversation.

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Deeper information

**What’s actually changing?**

When supply is tight, the market doesn’t just “get more expensive.” It gets less predictable.

Two things happen at once:

Big buyers reserve capacity early (AI infrastructure and large cloud/data-centre buildouts).
Manufacturers prioritize the highest-margin products those buyers want.

That combination squeezes the “everyday business hardware” lane. Even if you’re buying normal servers and laptops, you’re shopping in whatever capacity is left over. That’s where volatility shows up.

What those percentages mean

Those percentage moves are contract-market signals, not a promise that every laptop will cost 95% more.

What they do predict is this: more frequent pricing changes, shorter quote validity windows, and more “that configuration isn’t available right now” conversations. In other words, the buying process gets less stable even when your plan has not changed.

Where you’ll notice it first

This usually hits in a familiar order:

Servers and core systems first (they use the most memory and compete most directly with data-centre demand)
Higher-spec laptops and workstations next (the gap between “standard” and “high-performance” becomes more painful)
Then the ripple effect: substitutions, changing SKUs, and “close enough” builds to stay inside budget

What this looks like on the ground

Instead of a clean, predictable price list, you’ll see:

Quotes valid for fewer days
Pricing that changes between approval and purchase
Longer lead times for certain configurations
The same model arriving with slightly different specs
Bigger cost jumps when more performance or more memory is required

The mistake people make is treating this like a one-time sticker-shock problem. It’s more of a timing and predictability problem.

Practical moves that reduce surprises

You don’t need to rush out and buy hardware. But you probably do want to plan a bit earlier than you’re used to.

A few moves that consistently help:

Look 90–120 days ahead at planned purchases, even roughly
Pull quotes early and confirm how long pricing is valid
Lock configurations where possible so you’re not re-deciding under pressure
Separate critical systems from discretionary upgrades
If approvals take time, build a small buffer for pricing movement

One question worth asking:

If you had to re-quote your next purchase today, would you still buy the same thing?

Most problems don’t come from choosing the wrong vendor. They come from decisions getting forced late.

If you’re buying a server in the next 90 days

Re-quote early and ask how long the pricing is valid.
Lock the configuration before the approval loop starts.
Decide what is critical infrastructure vs. “nice to have,” and protect the critical path first.

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FAQ

Why are RAM prices rising in 2026?

Because a bigger share of supply is being reserved upstream. AI and large data-centre buyers place massive orders early and lock in capacity, which makes the remaining supply less flexible and more volatile.

Will servers be affected more than laptops?

Often, yes. Servers tend to use far more memory per unit and compete more directly with the same supply that large data-centre builds consume. Laptops feel it too, just not always first.

Should we buy early to avoid increases?

Not necessarily. The goal is not panic buying. The goal is planning: earlier budgeting, earlier quoting, and fewer “we’re deciding under pressure” moments.

What’s the simplest way to reduce surprises in hardware budget planning?

Treat quotes like perishable items. Pull them earlier, confirm validity windows, and lock the configuration before internal approvals drag the decision past the window.

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How SolutionsIT fits in

For our clients, this kind of volatility is just another planning input. We look ahead at upcoming purchases, flag where pricing and availability are most likely to shift and help you separate “needs to happen” from “can wait.”

The goal isn’t perfect timing. It’s fewer surprises.

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References

Memory Makers Prioritize Server Applications, Driving Memory Price Hikes (Jan 5, 2026).
Memory Price Outlook for 1Q26 Sharply Upgraded (Feb 2, 2026).
Trendforce sees chip prices surging 90-95% in Q1 from previous quarter (Feb 2, 2026).
Surging memory chip prices dim outlook for consumer electronics makers (Jan 22, 2026).
The AI frenzy is driving a new global supply chain crisis (Dec 3, 2025).
Updates on memory pricing and navigating the volatile memory market (Dec 2025).