DRAM
Ongoing coverage on DRAM.
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Chinese memory maker YMTC wants to dethrone Samsung and SK hynix by the end of 2027
Chinese memory maker YMTC aims to become the global leader in NAND flash memory by the end of 2027, challenging current leaders Samsung and SK hynix. The company, which currently holds a 13% market share, is reportedly expanding its infrastructure to meet this ambitious goal. YMTC is also looking to increase its presence in the DRAM market, facing competition from CXMT.
SK Hynix Pours $38 Billion Into Two New DRAM and NAND Plants — But Chips Won’t Ship Until 2029
SK Hynix announced a significant investment of 54 trillion Korean won ($38.1 billion) to construct two new semiconductor fabrication plants in South Korea. One plant in Yongin will focus on HBM and DRAM, while the other in Cheongju will produce NAND storage chips. Production is not expected to begin until at least June 2029, indicating a long-term strategy to meet anticipated demand from AI data centers.
It won't fix the RAM crisis, but CXMT is poised to bring back mass-market DRAM production and gaming laptop brands…
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is increasing its global DRAM market share and is reportedly being used by laptop manufacturers like HP, Asus, and Acer to alleviate RAM shortages. While CXMT's current focus is on the Chinese market and standard laptops, its growth presents a potential challenge to established players like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, who are prioritizing HBM production.
Chinese RAM is reportedly landing in laptops from HP, Asus and Acer but it won't change the memory crisis overnight
Chinese memory manufacturer CXMT is reportedly supplying chips to HP, Asus, and Acer for use in their laptops, primarily in non-US markets. While CXMT's market share is growing, the limited supply is intended to avoid disrupting relationships with major global memory chipmakers like Micron, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. This development comes amidst a global memory crisis, with demand expected to outstrip supply for years to come.
Apple (AAPL) is seeing 'very significant constraints' in the supply chain
Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that the company is facing significant supply chain constraints, particularly for DRAM and storage components, which are expected to increase sequentially. These constraints, exacerbated by high demand from artificial intelligence companies, are leading to price increases and limited flexibility for products like the iPhone and Mac. Despite these challenges, Apple managed to exceed revenue and EPS expectations for its Q3 2026 quarter.
Micron's low power DRAM 'consumes approximately one-third the power of DDR5' in AI data center workloads,…
Micron and Meta have collaborated on an experimental data center rollout of low power DRAM (LPDDR5X) using Micron's SOCAMM2 form factor. Testing indicated this experimental DRAM consumes approximately one-third the power of DDR5 in AI workloads, accounting for under 7% of total system power and offering better bandwidth-per-watt performance.
The company that makes all the West's chipmaking machines says it's selling more than it expected thanks to 'very strong momentum in both DRAM and advanced logic'
ASML, a key supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, has increased its annual guidance due to strong demand from both DRAM and advanced logic chipmakers. This surge is primarily driven by the AI boom, leading to significant investments in fab expansion and capacity increases for various chip nodes, including those for AI accelerators.
DRAM demand predicted to outstrip supply by 28.7 exabytes in 2030, which is almost as much as the actual DRAM in the…
Research predicts a significant DRAM shortfall by 2030, with demand exceeding supply by 28.7 exabytes, even with increased production from Chinese manufacturers. This deficit is driven by AI demand and general market bottlenecks, potentially keeping DRAM prices inflated. Innovations in AI efficiency could offer some relief, but the overall trend points to continued supply constraints.
So THIS is why component makers have started validating their products for Chinese memory
Component manufacturers like MSI and Asus are validating their products for Chinese-made DRAM, driven by a significant ramp-up in production from companies such as CXMT. This expansion, supported by state backing and faster construction times, could see Chinese memory makers quickly rivaling established players like Micron. The increased capacity is expected to meet high global demand, potentially impacting pricing and availability for PC components.
Multiple motherboard and PC component makers move forward with Chinese-made memory validation
Motherboard manufacturers MSI and Asus are validating DDR5 memory from Chinese supplier CXMT, enabling support for higher speeds on their AMD AM5 platforms. This move comes as major memory producers like Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are still expanding capacity, with CXMT becoming a significant player in the DRAM market despite controversies.
Analysts think SK hynix's DRAM and NAND prices will finally drop by the end of 2028, but not before a huge rise…
Analysts from Bernstein predict that SK hynix's DRAM and NAND prices will see a significant rise through 2027 before dropping in 2028. Despite the eventual decline, prices are expected to remain considerably higher than 2025 levels. SK hynix is investing heavily in increased chip output, but aims to manage production to avoid oversupply.
Three Biggest RAM Makers Sued for Price-Fixing DRAM, Causing Supply Shortage
SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron are facing a class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing and supply manipulation of DRAM components. The lawsuit claims the companies artificially limited DDR3 and DDR4 RAM supply to drive up prices, while prioritizing more profitable High Bandwidth Memory for AI data centers. This alleged behavior has impacted the prices of consumer electronics, including gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
Oh no, that's Lenovo saying they think these RAM prices will be the new normal and may never go back to how they were
Lenovo suggests that current high DRAM and NAND prices may become the new normal, potentially extending beyond 2030. Despite increased production capacity, the company believes prices will not return to previous levels. This trend has already impacted the industry, leading to the shutdown of the game preservation site Myrient and contributing to the high cost of Valve's Steam Machines.
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.
If this breakdown of the full cost of producing your favourite graphics card is accurate, then prices for certain GPUs are going to make 64 GB DDR5 kits look cheap
A breakdown of graphics card production costs suggests that prices for certain GPUs, particularly high-end models, are set to increase significantly. Factors like DRAM shortages, increased wafer prices from TSMC, and rising shipping costs are contributing to these hikes, with some cards already exceeding MSRP and more price surges expected.
We're getting closer to a 100% ROG rig as Asus gets into the DRAM game for its 20th anniversary
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the release of a limited edition DDR5 DRAM kit. Developed in collaboration with Biwin, the 48 GB dual-channel kit is rated at 6,000 MT/s with tight timings and features XMP profiles for both AMD and Intel platforms. The high-end memory module is priced at approximately $850 USD.
'Our demand fulfillment rate is now at a record low' says Samsung as it makes its DRAM 90% more expensive than…
Samsung, the world's largest memory chip maker, is experiencing a record low demand fulfillment rate for DRAM. Despite this, the company has increased its DRAM prices by approximately 90% quarter-over-quarter, significantly boosting its profits. This surge in demand is largely attributed to the vast appetite of the AI industry for memory chips.
Single-channel DRAM is bad news for PC gaming but depending on what CPU you have, it's not actually as awful as you…
This analysis explores the impact of single-channel DRAM on PC gaming performance, particularly in light of current memory price increases. While dual-channel is generally preferred, CPUs with large caches, like AMD's Ryzen processors with 3D V-Cache, can mitigate performance drops in GPU-limited scenarios. However, in CPU-limited situations or on systems with less cache, single-channel DRAM can significantly reduce frame rates and cause microstutters, making dual-channel memory a crucial consideration for optimal gaming.
Making your own DRAM cells in a garden shed isn't the most practical solution to the RAMpocalypse, but it's…
YouTuber Dr. Semiconductor has successfully built functional DRAM cells in a backyard shed cleanroom, detailing the complex semiconductor manufacturing process. While the homemade cells work, their capacitors bleed charge faster than conventional DRAM, requiring more frequent recharging. Future plans include integrating these cells into a larger array and potentially hooking them up to a PC, with Doom mentioned as a possible test platform.
From a dentist's basement to half a trillion dollars and AI: Here's how memory manufacturer Micron Technology…
Micron Technology, a major semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has a long history dating back to its founding in 1978. The company has navigated numerous challenges, including intense competition from Japanese firms, market shortages, and internal leadership changes. Micron has played a significant role in the development of DRAM and NAND flash memory, and its recent investments are bolstered by the CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to expand US-based semiconductor production.
