DRAM shortage pushes HP, Dell, and ASUS to evaluate Chinese-made memory

A global DRAM shortage is starting to reshape PC supply chains, and major manufacturers are reportedly considering Chinese-made memory for the first time. Rising costs and limited availability are forcing OEMs to explore alternative suppliers to keep upcoming product launches on track.

According to a Nikkei Asia report, several leading PC makers have begun evaluating DRAM from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) as pressure mounts from surging memory prices.

Major OEMs reportedly testing CXMT memory

The report names HP, Dell, Acer, and ASUS as companies evaluating CXMT DRAM as a potential supply option.

HP has reportedly started qualifying CXMT memory internally and may use it in non-US markets if DRAM supply remains tight and prices stay elevated through mid-2026. Dell is also said to be qualifying CXMT DRAM, while Acer may rely on Chinese memory if its China-based contract manufacturers source it directly. ASUS has reportedly asked its China-based production partners to help secure alternative memory supplies for certain notebook projects.

The same laptops could ship with different memory suppliers

If qualification turns into mass production, identical laptop models could ship with different memory suppliers depending on the region or factory. This practice already exists in the PC industry, but the ongoing DRAM shortage could make these differences more visible, even when product listings only mention capacities such as “16GB RAM” or “1TB SSD.”

For consumers, identifying the memory vendor may prove difficult without part numbers, teardowns, or detailed retailer SKUs. Still, lower prices from alternative suppliers could outweigh brand concerns if performance and compatibility remain comparable.

The situation affects more than just next-generation memory. As shortages intensify, DDR4 prices are also climbing, increasing cost pressure on entry-level and midrange PCs.

In related supply news, NVIDIA may reportedly cut RTX 50 GPU supply to China by up to 40 percent, adding to broader concerns about component availability.

Via VideoCardz