ASUS is the world’s biggest manufacturer of motherboards, but that latest reports indicate that runner-up Gigabyte is closing in. According to recent estimates Gigabyte has shipped between 3.1 to 3.3 million motherboards during the first two months of 2010, compared to 3.2 to 3.3 million boards from ASUS. Sources at retailers are saying that ASUS might be lowering prices with some motherboards to makes sure it remains number one.
If that happens we expect Gigabyte and others to follow, which could result in a minor price war. This would beneft the consumers, but the margins of motherboards are already pretty slim so you shouldn’t expect any major differences right now.
ASUS did not comment on the story, but it aims to ship 5 million motherboards in Q1, and how close Gigabyte will be when the numbers become official remains to be seen,
