Thursday, September 30th 2021

Copper Foil Shortages Could Drive Motherboard and GPU Prices Upwards

Today, we got another report about the potential problems with motherboards and graphics cards. At the moment of writing, the global supply chain of electronics is still under the shortage caused by the lack of sufficient supply of semiconductors and some other electronic components that cannot meet demand. There is a reported scarcity of copper and copper-clad laminates (CCLs), used as a base plate for manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs) that power every electronics product currently available. According to DigiTimes, the costs of copper foils used to make these CCLs are rising, putting significant pressure on motherboard and GPU makers to increase their price quotes.

As the materials used to create motherboards and GPUs are experiencing rising costs, that usually results in two types of actions taken by the manufacturer: a price increase or a reduced profit margin of the product. Copper pricing has risen by 35% since Q4 2020, so price growth is inevitable. With the increased MSRP representing a common trend in the computer industry for the past period, it could very easily translate into manufacturers boosting their pricing structure. That means that we, as consumers, could see higher prices of motherboards and graphics cards, especially those models with PCBs made out of high amount of copper layers.
Source: via Tom's Hardware
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56 Comments on Copper Foil Shortages Could Drive Motherboard and GPU Prices Upwards

#26
MrDweezil
Oh no, now GPUs might end up being too pricey.
Posted on Reply
#27
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Time to reclaim dead pcbs for copper extraction then...
Posted on Reply
#28
Susquehannock
TiggerI saw a thing somewhere that said copper had gone up by 150% I used to be a tatter, that would have been nice, copper is poor mans gold
Depends on your time frame. Copper has risen about 150% in five years. One year has been about 50%. Give or take a few fluctuations. Rhodium is the amazing one. Used in electrical contacts and the like. Was selling for $500 ounce about five years ago and spiked to over $27,000 earlier this year. That's one heck of a chart.
Posted on Reply
#29
Unregistered
SusquehannockDepends on your time frame. Copper has risen about 150% in five years. One year has been about 50%. Give or take a few fluctuations. Rhodium is the amazing one. Used in electrical contacts and the like. Was selling for $500 ounce about five years ago and spiked to over $27,000 earlier this year. That's one heck of a chart.
Wow that's better than gold isn't it.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#30
Susquehannock
TiggerWow that's better than gold isn't it.
Considering gold rose roughly 53% vs 5,300% for rhodium in same five year time frame. Yes, very much so. Rh has backed off from the high quite a bit yet still sitting around $13,000.
Posted on Reply
#31
cadaveca
My name is Dave
eidairaman1Time to reclaim dead pcbs for copper extraction then...
could you imagine? if things get that bad...wait...recycling is good, right? :P
Posted on Reply
#32
Lycanwolfen
The black outs in China is just the start of going green energy. Rare metals are needed to make green energy which drives of the costs of everything up and up.
Posted on Reply
#33
Zaqq
What about prices of cpu coolers? I thought that base and heatpipes are made of nickel-plated copper...
Posted on Reply
#34
Lionheart
I feel like this shortage narrative is just gonna have a long domino affect & just creep into every industry over the coming years. Call me paranoid. 1984 here we come.
Posted on Reply
#35
Unregistered
LionheartI feel like this shortage narrative is just gonna have a long domino affect & just creep into every industry over the coming years. Call me paranoid. 1984 here we come.
Not paranoid, the worlds on a downward slope to fuckedville
Posted on Edit | Reply
#36
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
LionheartI feel like this shortage narrative is just gonna have a long domino affect & just creep into every industry over the coming years. Call me paranoid. 1984 here we come.
1984 in the US began in 1992, had a break from it in 2017-2021
Posted on Reply
#37
RJARRRPCGP
TheLostSwedeAnd fuel in some countries, plus record high fuel prices for this year.
So far, gas prices still not as bad as 2008! (Bush Jr. was the president, it was his last year before the inauguration of Obama) The second worst, was 2012, the highest under Obama.
Posted on Reply
#38
mechtech
Grabbing at straws here now, copper is sold by the pound. Even if it doubled the effect on graphics cards should literally be pennies.
MusselsI feel like buying my 3090 when i did was the right call, i'll be too old to game by the time new ones are in stock
lol

I bought a 2 Ton central AC system for my house for the price of a graphics card.

SCORE!!!!!!!!
Posted on Reply
#39
AusWolf
Is there any product or material left that there isn't a shortage of?
Posted on Reply
#40
TheLostSwede
News Editor
RJARRRPCGPSo far, gas prices still not as bad as 2008! (Bush Jr. was the president, it was his last year before the inauguration of Obama) The second worst, was 2012, the highest under Obama.
I said this year, but I guess you only read so far.
AusWolfIs there any product or material left that there isn't a shortage of?
Plastic, for now.
Posted on Reply
#41
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
AusWolfIs there any product or material left that there isn't a shortage of?
Dumb questions and bad drivers when it rains.
Posted on Reply
#42
chrcoluk
TheLostSwedeI guess you don't work in the real world? If material costs goes up, every step of the process in getting a product to you, goes up.
$1 at the source is at least $10 to you, depending on how many steps are involved.
Yep, modern day has many middlemen, the more middlemen the greater the gulf between manufacturing cost and retail.

The figures I have seen banded out are a real eye opener.

Not only cost, but when it comes to things like food as well, food can be in the supply chain for weeks before its even available to purchase. A reason why so many preservatives are added.
Posted on Reply
#43
AusWolf
MusselsDumb questions and bad drivers when it rains.
Calling bad drivers material. Spot on! :roll:
Posted on Reply
#44
RJARRRPCGP
TheLostSwedeI said this year, but I guess you only read so far.
I knew that you were saying this year. 2021 is the highest for U.S.A. since 2014, if not 2013!

I also have been seeing that particularly some big cities, magically get sky-high-gas-prices. It's usually the west or it's Chicago or near there.
Posted on Reply
#45
TheLostSwede
News Editor
RJARRRPCGPI knew that you were saying this year. 2021 is the highest for U.S.A. since 2014, if not 2013!

I also have been seeing that particularly some big cities, magically get sky-high-gas-prices. It's usually the west or it's Chicago or near there.
According to what I saw in the news, 1 litre of petrol costs $2 in Sweden now.
Posted on Reply
#46
RJARRRPCGP
TheLostSwedeAccording to what I saw in the news, 1 litre of petrol costs $2 in Sweden now.
Ironically, it looks like it's less than in 2006 there. Where a gent from there posted a rant about the gas prices, before the major 2008 gas crisis at badcaps. net . I thought it was like 9 in USD!

Yes, $7.56-per-gallon, is a ton! I also thought I saw that Italy is on the same boat!
Posted on Reply
#49
Luminescent
From what i understand from news almost everything will go up, it has to do with being "green" and all that, if you use green energy prices will go up, if you don't you get taxed for not being green and prices will go up.
Until there is a change in leadership prices will continue to go up, except giants like apple, they won't be affected by this.
Posted on Reply
#50
ThaiTaffy
Well I got sent a bargain deal today.
Just under £2000 which although crazy is reasonably priced here so what more shortages past semiconductors is going to look like will be absurd.
Posted on Reply
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