HP, Asus, and Acer have begun using DRAM chips manufactured by China-based ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) in their laptops. The companies completed the approval processes for these chips in mid-year and have begun shipments in limited quantities.

This move is noteworthy because these models are sold outside the United States. The main reason manufacturers are purchasing these chips in low volumes is to avoid jeopardizing their relationships with giants like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, who hold more than 90% of the market.

Market Dynamics and Supply Challenges

The memory shortage in the sector is pushing manufacturers to seek new suppliers, and CXMT currently does not offer a cost-effective alternative. The company’s DRAM prices are similar to Samsung’s, and making reservations for the next quarter seems quite difficult.

PC manufacturers, by working with CXMT, are actually aiming to create an alternative in their supply chains. Approving a new DRAM supplier requires months of detailed work including engineering, signal integrity, and thermal testing. HP, Asus, and Acer have completed this process and established an alternative infrastructure that they can deploy when needed.

At the root of the memory crisis lies the fact that the intense demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure has narrowed the production capacity of classic DRAM. While RAM prices have increased by more than 400% in the last year, IDC data predicts that the global PC market will shrink by more than 11% this year.

Smartphone manufacturers are also facing similar pressures, either reducing memory configurations or increasing prices in some models. Brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo are having to revise their 2026 shipment targets due to rising component costs.

The Market Dominance of Giants and Future Change

Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are not affected by the use of these small-scale Chinese chips in the short term because they have high pricing power in the current scarcity environment. However, the market dominance of these three increases the desire of manufacturers to turn to alternatives in the long term.

CXMT has become an approved supplier for PC manufacturers while rapidly increasing its production capacity. If market conditions change or supply eases, this new supply channel will provide manufacturers with valuable flexibility. Companies like Acer describe this as an effort to increase supply chain resilience.

Do you think this strategic move by major PC manufacturers can break the dominance of giants in the memory market in the long term?