Three major PC makers now using Chinese memory to fight 'unprecedented memory shortage,' report claims — HP, Asus, and Acer using 'small amounts' of CXMT chips in limited number of notebooks for non-US market

In the wake of an escalating global memory shortage driven by the AI boom, three prominent PC manufacturers - HP, Asus, and Acer - are reportedly incorporating Chinese memory chips from CXMT into limited quantities of notebooks for non-U.S. markets, according to a recent report. The shortage has significantly impacted the memory and storage supply, with AI data centers consuming a substantial portion of available resources.

Sources close to the matter claim that many major PC makers have successfully completed the qualification process for CXMT DRAM and are utilizing a "very limited" number of these chips in a small number of notebook models. Notably, these notebook models are not intended for sale in the U.S. market.

The use of CXMT chips is considered a strategic move to mitigate costs and secure additional supply, given the Pentagon's designation of CXMT as having ties to China's military. Furthermore, PC makers are reportedly exercising caution to avoid upsetting the dominant memory manufacturers, namely Micron, Samsung Electronics, and SK hynix.

While CXMT has seen a remarkable surge in its share price following its IPO in Shanghai, citing the majority of its investment towards water lines and process upgrades for DRAM, the report raises concerns about the actual affordability of their DRAM compared to the major players. As the RAM pricing situation has skyrocketed by 400% or more over the past year, the decision to incorporate CXMT chips may primarily be driven by the need to maintain supply rather than cost savings.