SK Hynix
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SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron sued over allegations of "concerted anticompetitive behaviour" in DRAM market
Chip manufacturers SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron are facing a class action lawsuit alleging concerted anticompetitive behavior in the DRAM market. Lawyers claim the companies coordinated to cut consumer DRAM supply and pivot to high-bandwidth memory for data centers, leading to significant price increases. This alleged behavior follows a history of DRAM price-fixing conspiracies between the same companies.
How to survive the memory shortage crisis: a PC owner's guide
This guide offers PC owners strategies to navigate the current memory shortage crisis, which is driving up prices for RAM, graphics cards, and other components. It suggests focusing on software solutions like upscaling and frame generation, optimizing existing hardware through updates and BIOS settings, and considering second-hand parts or cheaper alternatives for upgrades. The article anticipates that significant relief in memory pricing is unlikely before 2028 or 2029 due to high AI demand.
PC RAM prices could stay this high for years, hints memory maker Micron's latest earnings
Micron Technology's latest earnings report indicates that PC RAM prices may remain high for several years due to long-term supply agreements and a focus on data center production. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra highlighted that industry supply is structurally constrained and unlikely to meet increasing demand until around 2028. This situation, coupled with potential shifts in AI infrastructure, suggests inflated prices for RAM-intensive tech products will persist.
Tencent, Xbox, Game Angels, Ansible and Flick to speak on Game Republic New Horizons investor stage
The Game Republic New Horizons conference will feature speakers from Tencent, Xbox, The Game Angels, Ansible, and Flick Games on its investor stage. The event, co-hosted by Games London, aims to connect game studios with investors and funders. Separately, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra discussed the ongoing global chip shortage, predicting gradual improvement in 2028 due to increased demand from data centers powering AI.
Micron says chip shortage will "improve gradually" in 2028
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra stated that the global RAM and NAND chip shortage, exacerbated by AI demand, is expected to persist through 2027 and gradually improve in 2028. He admitted that the company has no visibility on when supply will meet demand, citing long fab construction times, worker shortages, and regulatory hurdles. This shortage is driving up component costs, impacting hardware markets and console prices, with companies like Valve facing higher costs for their Steam Machine.
Valve Admits That it Didn’t Have Bargaining Power With RAM Companies for Steam Machine
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais revealed that the high cost of the Steam Machine was partly due to a lack of bargaining power with memory manufacturers. These companies dictated prices with no room for negotiation, a situation exacerbated by the demand from AI data centers. Griffais also explained Valve's commitment to an open PC ecosystem, which prevented them from subsidizing the hardware cost like a console.
"This is going to be a niche device" – Analysts react to the $1,000+ Steam Machine price reveal
Industry analysts are reacting to Valve's Steam Machine pricing, which starts at $1,049, significantly higher than initially anticipated. This increase is attributed to global component shortages, particularly memory and storage, exacerbated by the generative AI boom. Experts believe this high price point positions the Steam Machine as a niche product and raises questions about the future pricing of upcoming consoles from Sony and Microsoft, with some predicting they will also exceed $1,000.
An SSD company has just agreed to an almost $2 billion multi-year NAND deal, which is a sign it expects the memory…
SSD manufacturer Biwin has entered into a two-year, $1.86 billion deal for NAND flash memory, securing supply through June 2026. This significant commitment, representing over half of Biwin's annual revenue, indicates the company's expectation that the ongoing memory crisis will persist. Major memory manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix are working to increase production, though they are cautious about over-ramping due to potential demand drops.
SK hynix claims it will be able to triple its memory chip output by 2034, roughly 10 years sooner than first projected
SK hynix plans to triple its memory chip output by 2034, a decade earlier than initially projected, by constructing four new chip factories. While this expansion is significant, the company states that it cannot accelerate the timeline further. The increased capacity is expected to double within five years and triple by the new target date, though it offers little immediate relief for the current global memory crisis.
'The thing that gives me hope is there is an enormous amount of capacity being built' - AMD's head of Ryzen and Radeon is pinning hopes of an end to the memory crisis on a supply ramp into 2028
AMD's David McAfee expressed hope that the memory crisis, exacerbated by AI demand, could ease by 2028 as manufacturers ramp up DDR5 production. While acknowledging the significant capacity being built, McAfee noted that the unprecedented demand from AI and server refreshes makes it uncertain if supply will meet future needs. Other industry figures and companies like Samsung and SK hynix are also investing in new facilities, though they cautiously manage risks of oversupply.
Morning Tech Bits
SK hynix plans to double its memory wafer production capacity over the next five years, according to its chairman. The company anticipates that an AI-driven shortage will continue until at least 2030. Cooler Master also showcased new MWE products.
Intel targets India for a new $3.3 billion factory that will make the base substrates for its next generation of chips
Intel plans to invest $3.3 billion in partnership with 3D Glass Solutions, Inc. to build a semiconductor substrate manufacturing facility in Odisha, India. The plant, expected to take six years to complete, will produce high-density interconnect and advanced packaging glass core substrates. This initiative is part of India's 'Make in India' program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.
This supply chain Sankey diagram for an Nvidia AI megachip is a handy guide to understanding just how easy it is to ruin…
A Sankey diagram from Veridion illustrates the complex supply chain for Nvidia's H200 AI megachip, highlighting components also relevant to common graphics cards from manufacturers like TSMC, Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron. The article discusses how disruptions or price increases from key suppliers can significantly impact the cost and availability of PC gaming hardware.
Samsung workers to take home $340,000 on average thanks to union's vote to approve historic profit-share deal
Samsung semiconductor workers will receive an average of $340,000 in bonuses following a union vote to approve a historic profit-sharing deal. The agreement grants workers 10.5% of the company's operating profit, totaling an estimated $22.6 billion. The article also touches on the broader role of labor unions in the tech and gaming industries, referencing recent events at Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast.
Team Group CEO warns that DRAM and SSD prices will still rise: 'If you need memory, we recommend purchasing it as…
Team Group CEO Gerry Chen warns that prices for DRAM and SSDs are likely to continue rising due to high AI server demand, which accounts for 40-50% of the memory market. He predicts supply shortages will persist until 2028 and advises consumers to purchase memory components sooner rather than later, as PC component prices may follow server market increases.
SK Hynix hits $1 trillion valuation
Chipmaker SK Hynix has surpassed a $1 trillion valuation, joining an elite group of companies reaching this financial milestone. The surge in valuation highlights the growing importance and market value of semiconductor manufacturers.
Two memory manufacturers join Samsung in the $1 trillion market cap club, global DRAM revenue is nearing $100,000,000,000, and I'm here with my head in my hands
Global DRAM revenue is approaching $100 billion, with Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron all achieving market capitalizations of $1 trillion. While Samsung maintains the largest market share, ChangXin Memory Technologies is showing significant growth. Despite strong performance for manufacturers, rising prices are a concern for consumers and PC gamers.
Samsung has reportedly developed 900-layer flash memory chips and I'm thinking SSDs could get seriously cheap if…
Samsung has reportedly developed a prototype 900-layer NAND flash memory chip by bonding two 450-layer wafers, significantly increasing density compared to current technologies. This advancement is largely driven by the demand from the AI industry, though it raises questions about future SSD pricing if the AI market cools.
Samsung has swerved a planned South Korean factory strike with a last-minute deal, so the memory machine rumbles on
Samsung Electronics has reached a last-minute agreement with its labor union, averting a planned 18-day strike. The union had previously demanded 15% of annual operating profits for employee bonuses and the removal of a salary cap on performance pay. The details of the new proposal are yet to be revealed, but the union has agreed to suspend the strike pending an internal vote.
I really hope you weren't considering a GPU upgrade this year, as Nvidia may raise the price of the already pricey…
Reports suggest Nvidia may increase the price of the RTX 5090 GPU by as much as $300 due to ongoing memory shortages impacting component pricing. This potential price hike, if true, will likely affect PC gamers. The AI industry's high demand for memory chips is a primary driver of the current supply crisis, with significant improvements not expected until 2028.
