Micron to exit consumer memory business amid global supply shortage (opens in new tab)

(reuters.com)

50 pointsdjkoolaide3mo ago19 comments

19 comments

My wife works for a small distributor of memory (not modules, just the chips), and their manufacturers won't even provide prices or take backorders.

I understand why they did it in the current market, but Micron's exit is going to cause retail prices to go even higher.

I used pcpartsbuilder to spec out a machine I was thinking of building a few months ago, and the DRAM that was $109 for 32GB is now $399. It's crazy.

djkoolaideOP3mo ago

We build bespoke servers installed at client properties to support our service. Since August, our unit cost has jumped from $3,500 to $5,500. It’s a bleak situation and will directly impact many businesses.

ComputerGuru3mo ago

There are a decent number of players in the SSD business, but not many at the top trading blows for max performance and Best Buy’s. This will not be good for the consumer market. Seems like everything is consolidating.

LordAtlas3mo ago

How the heck is this going to pan out? Memory prices are already crazy high and forecasts say there is going to be no respite till end of 2026. Are people just going to stop buying devices and computers? The downstream effects of this (in a scenario where every device needs memory) are bonkers.

ndiddy3mo ago

Both Hynix and Samsung won't be expanding production very much (see https://www.hankyung.com/article/2025120168881 ), so I expect the shortages to continue. Obviously buying RAM a la carte will be extremely cost prohibitive until they end. Eventually GPUs will go up as well. AMD already doesn't bundle VRAM with its GPUs, and nVidia just announced they'd stop bundling VRAM as well. If you're looking at getting a new GPU, I'd say puill the trigger now. Cell phones and prebuilt computers shouldn't be as much of a problem (assuming the shortages aren't extremely protracted), as those manufacturers have long-term deals with their suppliers that don't expose them to as much volatility. It might help Apple's RAM upgrade prices seem sane :)

Tadpole91813mo ago

Just to be clear, "won't be expanding production" is a euphemism for "illegally price fixing again".

int32_643mo ago

So far is this just affecting PC builders? Has Apple adjusted their prices? Is this as bad as peak ETH mining yet where every prebuilt is sold out because it's getting raided for parts and was priced at MSRP?

dmm3mo ago

> Are people just going to stop buying devices and computers?

I'm sure Apple and Samsung will still have access to chips. Maybe this is just the beginning of the end for access to general-purpose computing for the masses.

ferrouswheel3mo ago

All part of the plan to force everyone to rent compute. Evil bastards.

simmons3mo ago

I was excited earlier this year to discover that Micron (Crucial) was manufacturing 64GB DDR5 "laptop memory" modules, allowing me to pick up a couple in early September to build an ASUS NUC VM server with 128GB of RAM. It was a little hard to get even then, but I found a vendor selling it at a reasonable price.

It worked out so well that I decided to get some more. Needless to say, it went from unavailable to being available for double the price. Now, I guess it won't be available at all in the future. :(

hurricanepootis3mo ago

I remember looking for Crucial DDR5 SODIMMS at Microcenter a month ago. There was barely any stock and only a few sticks left. I talked to the sales associate at the counter, and he let me known that RAM prices were increasing. As an aside, I was eyeing this ram for a month before getting it. Hearing what he said made me go for it.

Also, I feel bad for the aftermarket market. Crucial was always the best option for upgrades to OEM systems or laptops.

ChrisArchitect3mo ago

Official post: https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-deta... (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46137783)

Ekaros3mo ago

I think I will wait for AM7 at this rate... 32GB of not the fastest DDR4 should last long enough.

doubled1123mo ago

I think we might be floating along in the same boat.

I have three AM4 builds with early Ryzen CPUs in them, thinking it's almost time to upgrade, but every time I start to plan something like this happens and it's not worth it.

I will just keep waiting.

blibble3mo ago

what's the use of "AI" if no-one can afford computers or phones?

roskelld3mo ago

Why buy a new PC when your crummy old one can just connect to a fancy "cloud" computer which you can rent for a snappy monthly fee.

Want faster or more hours of access, they'll sell you a higher tier for that.

Remember the bigger the tier, the bigger the savings. 20% off if you subscribe for 12 months.

blibble3mo ago

you can't use your crummy old one as windows 11 isn't allowed on it

type03mo ago

"You'll own nothing and be happy"

someguydave3mo ago

Terrible news, I prefer to buy US made chips if I can and Micron was a decent vendor

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

19 comments

kevin423mo ago

My wife works for a small distributor of memory (not modules, just the chips), and their manufacturers won't even provide prices or take backorders.

I understand why they did it in the current market, but Micron's exit is going to cause retail prices to go even higher.

I used pcpartsbuilder to spec out a machine I was thinking of building a few months ago, and the DRAM that was $109 for 32GB is now $399. It's crazy.

djkoolaideOP3mo ago

ComputerGuru3mo ago

LordAtlas3mo ago

ndiddy3mo ago

Tadpole91813mo ago

Just to be clear, "won't be expanding production" is a euphemism for "illegally price fixing again".

int32_643mo ago

dmm3mo ago

> Are people just going to stop buying devices and computers?

I'm sure Apple and Samsung will still have access to chips. Maybe this is just the beginning of the end for access to general-purpose computing for the masses.

ferrouswheel3mo ago

All part of the plan to force everyone to rent compute. Evil bastards.

simmons3mo ago

It worked out so well that I decided to get some more. Needless to say, it went from unavailable to being available for double the price. Now, I guess it won't be available at all in the future. :(

hurricanepootis3mo ago

Also, I feel bad for the aftermarket market. Crucial was always the best option for upgrades to OEM systems or laptops.

ChrisArchitect3mo ago

Official post: https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-deta... (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46137783)

Ekaros3mo ago

I think I will wait for AM7 at this rate... 32GB of not the fastest DDR4 should last long enough.

doubled1123mo ago

I think we might be floating along in the same boat.

I have three AM4 builds with early Ryzen CPUs in them, thinking it's almost time to upgrade, but every time I start to plan something like this happens and it's not worth it.

I will just keep waiting.

blibble3mo ago

what's the use of "AI" if no-one can afford computers or phones?

roskelld3mo ago

Why buy a new PC when your crummy old one can just connect to a fancy "cloud" computer which you can rent for a snappy monthly fee.

Want faster or more hours of access, they'll sell you a higher tier for that.

Remember the bigger the tier, the bigger the savings. 20% off if you subscribe for 12 months.

blibble3mo ago

you can't use your crummy old one as windows 11 isn't allowed on it

type03mo ago

"You'll own nothing and be happy"

someguydave3mo ago

Terrible news, I prefer to buy US made chips if I can and Micron was a decent vendor

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse