Introduction

The cost of PC hardware is set to rise significantly as copper prices hit new highs, which could severely impact gamers and hardware builders.

Copper Price Surge

Roman Hartung, the CEO of Thermal Grizzly, highlighted that copper prices have escalated from approximately $9,000 per tonne to over $13,000 per tonne. He indicated that this hike is not solely due to market fluctuations but is also exacerbated by a weakened dollar over the past year.

The Direct Impact

Hartung recounted his attempts to order 12 mm thick copper plates, a staple in their GPU water cooling blocks. He cited delays and price increases of up to 40%, raising concerns over product viability.

“There is a noteworthy rise in the pricing structure for copper materials that will eventually filter down to consumer prices.” Translation: There is a significant increase in the pricing of copper materials that will eventually affect consumer prices.

This surge in cost has implications not just for cooling systems, but for numerous PC components including heat spreaders and wiring found in CPUs and motherboards.

Market Analysis

Hartung noted that despite the upwards trend, analysts from Goldman Sachs predict that the current situation may only be temporary, expecting a decline in copper prices later in 2026. However, the situation remains volatile as companies hoard copper and tin in anticipation of potential tariffs.

Conclusion

As copper plays a crucial role in the electronics industry, this price spike will likely increase the overall cost of PC production. Consumers should prepare for possible higher prices on various components as manufacturers adapt to these new economic realities.