HP, Asus, and Acer Begin Using Chinese CXMT Memory Chips Amid AI-Driven Global Shortage

Amid an unprecedented global memory shortage driven by surging AI infrastructure demand, major PC makers HP, Asus, and Acer have begun using limited volumes of DRAM chips from China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). To avoid upsetting dominant suppliers Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron, and to navigate geopolitical tensions, the vendors are restricting these chips to entry-level laptops sold outside the U.S. market. Meanwhile, CXMT is prioritizing domestic clients like Huawei and weighing plans for a second Beijing fab.

CXMT DRAM adoption by PC makers

• ▪Many major PC makers completed the qualification and certification procedures for ChangXin Memory Technologies DRAM chips in mid-2026
• ▪The notebook models incorporating ChangXin Memory Technologies DRAM chips are sold exclusively in markets outside the United States
• ▪HP, Asus, and Acer have begun using limited volumes of DRAM chips from China's ChangXin Memory Technologies in their notebook computers

AI-driven memory shortage

• ▪The global PC and smartphone industries have suffered from memory chip and CPU shortages since late 2025
• ▪Market research firm IDC expects the global PC market to decline by more than 11% in 2026 due to the unprecedented memory shortage
• ▪An unprecedented global memory shortage has been driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure

DRAM price surge

• ▪Samsung Electronics raised prices for 32GB DDR5 modules by 60% to $239, while contract DDR5 pricing more than doubled from early 2025
• ▪Gartner forecasts that DRAM prices will rise 47% in 2026 amid severe undersupply in both traditional and legacy DRAM segments

CXMT supply constraints

• ▪ChangXin Memory Technologies is weighing plans to build a second 12-inch DRAM fab in Beijing, seeking at least RMB 60 million in funding
• ▪ChangXin Memory Technologies is prioritizing its production capacity for Chinese domestic customers, particularly Huawei

U.S. export controls

• ▪ChangXin Memory Technologies is on the United States Pentagon's list of companies linked to the Chinese military
• ▪Lawmakers in Washington are lobbying to have ChangXin Memory Technologies blacklisted, while Apple has reportedly lobbied to buy its chips

Global DRAM market competition

• ▪Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron collectively accounted for 89.7% of the global DRAM market in the first quarter of 2026
• ▪ChangXin Memory Technologies ranked fourth among DRAM suppliers by revenue in the first quarter of 2026 with a 7.6% market share