Micron
Micron business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
'Regardless of the type of offer, available capacity is essentially zero right now': SK hynix is reportedly being swamped with 'unprecedented' offers to secure memory chips
SK hynix is reportedly overwhelmed with offers to secure memory chips due to an ongoing global shortage, with available capacity essentially at zero. Companies are proposing financing equipment and providing advanced machinery to secure contracts, but SK hynix is cautious about long-term deals that could lead to selling memory at a lower price. Other major players like Samsung and Micron are also reportedly in talks for multi-year contracts, while companies like Maingear and Phison express concerns about the crisis potentially leading to bankruptcies.
"It's a totally crazy market" – The seismic impact of the AI boom on video game hardware
The surge in demand for AI data centers has caused a significant shortage and price increase for consumer hardware components like RAM and GPUs. This impacts gaming hardware manufacturers such as Nintendo, Valve, and Sony, leading to higher prices for consoles like the PlayStation 5 and potentially delaying new hardware launches like the Steam Machine. The increased costs also affect game development studios by raising the price of essential development hardware.
'This is the first time where I'm seeing no light at the end of the tunnel': How the memory crisis is…
The PC gaming industry is facing a severe memory crisis, with RAM prices quadrupling due to high demand from AI development. Companies like PowerGPU and Maingear are struggling with increased costs and reduced sales, with some executives seeing no end in sight for the next two years. This crisis is impacting entry-level PC price points and forcing some builders to consider alternative solutions like console gaming.
MediaTek is 'cautiously optimistic' that discrete memory pricing will look less gloomy during 2026
MediaTek is cautiously optimistic that discrete memory pricing will improve in the second half of 2026, despite current challenges driven by AI demand. The semiconductor company, which saw significant revenue growth in 2025, acknowledges pricing difficulties but expects a slowdown in consumer price increases later in the year. While capacity agreements are in place, future supply constraints from manufacturers like TSMC remain a concern.
China's YMTC is reportedly aiming to more than double its wafer production, which could eventually help put cheap…
China's Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) is reportedly planning to significantly increase its wafer production by building two new foundries. This expansion aims to more than double its output, potentially making it a major global producer of NAND flash memory chips used in SSDs. The move is also seen as China's effort to reduce reliance on US chip manufacturers amidst export restrictions.
RAM spot prices are down by 5%, though they did spike by well over 2000% this past year
Spot prices for RAM have recently decreased by approximately 5%, following a significant spike of over 2000% in the past year, largely driven by the AI industry's demand. Despite this minor drop, consumer prices are unlikely to fall substantially soon, with projections suggesting affordable RAM might not be available until 2028. Some industry leaders express concern about potential bankruptcies and the future of personal computing due to the ongoing memory crisis.
Dell's CEO reckons that the total memory demand from the entire AI market in 2028 will be 625x bigger than it was…
Dell's CEO Michael Dell predicts that the total memory demand for the AI market will increase by approximately 625 times by 2028. This surge is driven by expanding memory per accelerator and system scale in AI infrastructure. The article highlights that current memory manufacturers like SK hynix, Samsung, and Micron may struggle to meet this future demand, potentially impacting the availability and cost of components like HBM4, LPDDR5x, and NAND flash storage.
Teamgroup MP44Q 2 TB NVMe SSD review
The Teamgroup MP44Q 2 TB NVMe SSD offers average performance across most metrics, with notable weaknesses in 4K performance and pricing. While it boasts an impressive endurance rating and efficient operation, it is overshadowed by competitors that offer better performance for a similar or lower cost.
Gaming GPU Memory Tech Powers Micron’s Cheaper AI Hardware Push
Micron is developing a new AI hardware strategy by stacking up to four layers of GDDR memory modules, typically used in gaming GPUs, to significantly reduce costs. This approach aims to make AI hardware more affordable, with testing planned for this year and early samples potentially available in 2027. While this could benefit AI adoption, it may also impact the availability and pricing of gaming hardware due to increased demand for GDDR memory.
RAM prices are technically dropping, but AI data centers will still keep them very high
Despite recent AI algorithm updates and market fluctuations, consumer RAM prices are not significantly dropping. Manufacturers are prioritizing business-to-business sales for AI data centers, which are experiencing surging demand and higher profit margins, leaving the consumer market as an afterthought.
AI funding uncertainties are shaking up memory producers. Will we finally be able to afford RAM again?
Uncertainties in AI funding, particularly concerning OpenAI's financial stability and its impact on memory procurement, are beginning to affect RAM prices. Major manufacturers like Micron and SK Hynix have seen stock value drops, leading to a decline in RAM prices in some markets. This trend offers hope for consumers and potentially future console launches like the PlayStation 6 and new Xbox.
The RAM crisis is Apple's best chance in decades to capture the PC market
The global RAM crisis presents Apple with a unique opportunity to significantly increase its market share in the PC sector. While competitors face rising component costs and production challenges, Apple's integrated hardware and software, along with its strong profit margins, allow it to potentially offer competitive pricing and performance with its MacBook Neo. This situation could shift the balance of power away from Windows-based manufacturers.
Elon Musk announces Terafab project he claims will be the 'largest chip manufacturing facility ever'
Elon Musk announced the Terafab project, a joint venture between Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, aiming to build the largest chip manufacturing facility ever. The project, estimated to cost at least $20 billion, will produce a terawatt of computing power annually to meet the companies' growing chip demands for terrestrial applications like Full Self-Driving and Optimus robots, as well as high-powered chips for space.
The memory crisis certainly isn't ending soon, as Micron confirm 'demand significantly in excess of our available supply for the foreseeable future'
Micron Technology has reported record revenue and profits but is facing a significant memory supply shortage, with demand far exceeding available supply for the foreseeable future. CEO Sanjay Merhotra stated that AI growth is a major driver of this demand, and while the company plans to increase output, it will take years for supply to meet AI needs. Micron also aims to maintain a diversified market mix including PCs, smartphones, and automotive sectors.
Morning Tech Bits
Developers from Capcom and Ubisoft expressed surprise at the announcement of DLSS 5, stating they learned about it concurrently with the public. Separately, Micron predicts that driverless cars and humanoid robots will be more significant than PCs or LLMs in the future.
Forget about PCs or LLMs, Micron says driverless cars and humanoid bots will soon be gobbling up 300 GB of RAM per…
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra predicts that driverless cars and humanoid robots will soon require hundreds of gigabytes of RAM each, driven by AI advancements. This demand is expected to strain the supply of DRAM and NAND memory chips, with industry bit demand in 2026 potentially constrained by supply despite overall market growth.
DRAM Price Fixing Cartel Exposed: How Memory Makers Are Scamming PC Gamers
An investigation reveals that major DRAM manufacturers Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have engaged in price-fixing and market manipulation, artificially inflating RAM costs for PC gamers. This coordinated action creates artificial scarcity, leading to significantly higher prices for components like DDR4 and DDR5 memory, impacting the affordability of gaming PCs.
US Supreme Court strike down majority of Trump's tariffs, so hopefully that's one less hardware buying headache to worry about
The US Supreme Court has struck down the majority of tariffs imposed by President Trump, potentially easing hardware costs for consumers. This ruling could alleviate issues faced by PC hardware companies and impact products like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Deck. The article also briefly touches on the ongoing RAM shortage exacerbated by AI companies.
The best SSDs for the Steam Deck
This guide reviews and recommends the best M.2 2230 SSDs for the Steam Deck, evaluating performance, thermals, and value. It highlights top picks like the Corsair MP600 Mini for overall performance and the Crucial P310 for exceptional value, while also discussing compatibility and installation.
Why Do Game Console Prices Keep Going Up?
The ongoing global chip shortage, exacerbated by the massive demand for AI data centers, is driving up prices for gaming consoles and PC components. This situation is leading to longer console generations, potential consolidation in the PC building market, and a shift towards cloud gaming as a more accessible option for consumers. While the shortage presents challenges, it could also lead to developers focusing more on optimizing games for existing hardware, potentially resulting in better-designed and more accessible gaming experiences in the long run.
