- Micron says consumers are still being served despite ending the Crucial brand
- Enterprise DRAM demand now consumes over half of the total global memory supply
- Adjusting the output for different DRAM sizes can reduce the overall output
Micron has addressed criticism following its recent decision to retire the Crucial SSD and memory brand, clarifying that the company is not completely abandoning consumers.
The announcement comes after months of speculation that Micron is prioritizing enterprise-grade DRAM and storage for AI projects, leaving PC builders and hobbyists facing supply shortages and rising prices.
In a recent WCCFtech interview, Christopher Moore, Micron’s VP of Marketing for Mobile and Client Business, emphasized that the company continues to supply memory to OEMs, including LPDDR5 modules for laptops, while redistributing resources to businesses with high demand.
Increasing AI demand strains the memory supply
Moore acknowledged the growth of data centers and the demand for artificial intelligence has changed the market dramatically, with enterprise requirements now consuming 50% to 60% of the total memory supply.
He noted that this is not just a Micron problem, as the entire industry is experiencing shortages, forcing manufacturers to prioritize production where it is most needed.
Adjusting production for different DRAM sizes can reduce overall output, and Micron is working with customers to stabilize demand so that supply can be maximized across all segments.
Micron’s move is part of an AI-focused pivot that includes ramping up the company’s SSD production and dedicating a significant portion of its production to AI computing infrastructure.
Moore emphasized that the company remains committed to consumers, stating that they are served through various channels with ongoing shipments of memory and portable SSD solutions through major OEMs.
The company maintains its partnerships with PC brands such as Dell and Asus to ensure that consumer devices still receive DRAM and storage modules.
It has also expanded manufacturing capacity, including its ID1 facility in Idaho and a $100 billion megafab in New York.
Moore clarified that while these projects will increase production, meaningful production is not expected until 2028 after qualification and customer acceptance.
For consumers, this means DRAM shortages and increased prices could persist for several years, especially for DIY builders or those looking to upgrade with higher-capacity SSD or memory modules.
Micron is on its toes to make sure it serves customers better because suppliers in China and elsewhere have helped bolster the industry.
This competition is healthy and will likely help the DRAM market bounce back.
Micron technically still supports the consumer market, but it’s hard not to notice that the company is moving towards AI and enterprise memory.
It clearly prioritizes large-scale infrastructure, leaving individuals and hobbyists facing supply constraints for the foreseeable future.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
