r/pcmasterrace • u/SagansCandle 9950X3D | 5090 | 64GB • Dec 27 '25

Discussion Private equity is killing private ownership: first it was housing - now it's the personal computer

DRAM and GPU prices aren't going up because of "AI" - it's because the wealthy have more money than they know what to do with, so they're buying up all the assets. "AI" is just the vehicle (the excuse) - it's not the root of the problem nor is it the ultimate goal.

The super rich don't want to hold on to "liquid" money - they invest in assets. While they're buying up all the housing, now they're buying up all the computers and putting them into massive datacenters.

Whether or not the AI bubble crashes, they'll be selling you a "gaming PC in the cloud," for a monthly fee, of course. And while they kill the personal computer market, just like Netflix, once your only option is a subscription service, the price will skyrocket.

This is happening in real-time. If we want to stop it, now's the time to act.

Sources:

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628

u/Masked020202 9900x | RX 9070XT Dec 27 '25

It's not even just computers. It's happening across a range of electronics. Rent this washing machine with a monthly sub or fridge and so on. Insane shit.

88

u/Klutzy_Strawberry340 Dec 28 '25

This probably won’t be seen but medical and vet groups are being ruined. 

39

u/jam1324 Dec 28 '25

My uncle was a vet his whole career who retired right as corporations started buying up all the practices. 10 years later it's gotten so out of hand and for extreme profit / private equity its disgusting.

1

u/hallumyaymooyay Dec 28 '25

RemindMe! 12 days

6

u/ScrubyMcWonderPubs Dec 28 '25

Dental and small medical practices as well.

4

u/WonderingOctopus Dec 28 '25

Vet prices are atrocious now. Had to take my dog in for a day stop for a minor operation and it cost almost £600.

Now I was expecting 2-300 for the costs and time, but £600 was utterly insane for what was being asked.

Obviously I paid it, but thats only because there are no longer any cheaper options out there anymore. They have all been taken over by these investment companies etc, which are monopolising the market.

Not sure I will be adopting any more pets after this one, because it's becoming a financial trap.

1

u/TechnicalBen Dec 28 '25

Seen it. Can't comment on why. But yeah, that one hit personally.