The tech industry is currently experiencing a significant challenge as rising DRAM prices threaten to impact consumers directly. ASUS, a prominent player in the market, has raised concerns about its ability to maintain the current pricing structure amidst these changes.
ASUS Highlights Potential Impact of Rising RAM Prices
The surge in consumer memory prices, largely driven by high demand from the AI sector, is causing a ripple effect across the industry. Companies like Corsair and Adata have already reported an ‘order halt’ due to the drastic price increases. ASUS’s co-CEO has referred to this situation as a “common problem” for the industry, cautioning that if these imbalances continue, further price hikes are inevitable. ASUS will consider costs, distribution partners, and consumer demand when adjusting product prices and mixes in response to these changes.
Implications for ASUS and Its Products
As a key partner for CPU and GPU manufacturers, ASUS faces the challenge of managing inventory levels amid rising memory costs. Devices such as laptops, mini-PCs, and pre-built systems, which rely heavily on consumer memory, are expected to see price adjustments. Given the ongoing demand from the AI industry, particularly for DRAM-based products like HBM and DDR memory, these changes are likely unavoidable.
Future Outlook
The RAM shortage is anticipated to fuel increased interest in consumer PC products, leading to faster inventory depletion. Additionally, with the end-of-life for Windows 10 approaching, many consumers are upgrading to newer platforms like AMD’s AM5, further driving demand. Current indications suggest that memory prices may continue to rise, with stabilization not expected in the near future.