智通财经网·2026-02-05 07:33Core Viewpoint - Global PC manufacturers are considering large-scale procurement of storage chips from Chinese manufacturers due to extreme shortages in the global storage chip supply, which is threatening new product launches and increasing operational costs across the tech industry [1][2] Group 1: Industry Context - The current shortage of storage chips is unprecedented, affecting various sectors including PCs, gaming consoles, high-end smartphones, and AI data centers, which require long-term large-scale purchases of these critical hardware components [2] - The demand for storage chips is being driven by AI data center expansions led by companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, which are prioritizing high-margin sectors over consumer electronics, thereby squeezing the supply available for PC manufacturers [2][3] Group 2: Impact on Major Companies - Nintendo's recent earnings report highlighted that the shortage of storage chips, particularly DRAM, has severely impacted profit margins, leading to a situation where increased sales do not translate into higher profits [4] - Qualcomm has indicated that the supply chain bottlenecks in storage chips are expected to reduce smartphone chip revenues to approximately $6 billion, reflecting the direct impact of storage chip shortages on smartphone shipments [4] Group 3: Supply Chain Dynamics - The current supply-demand mismatch is particularly acute for DRAM, especially PC DRAM and high-performance DDR5, which are experiencing significant price increases and affecting overall production costs and shipment schedules [3][7] - Major storage chip manufacturers like SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron are reallocating production capacity to more profitable HBM storage systems, which is further constraining the supply of consumer-grade memory products [5][6] Group 4: Actions by PC Manufacturers - HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus are actively seeking to certify and procure DRAM products from Chinese manufacturer Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) to mitigate the impact of rising prices and supply shortages [8][9] - HP plans to closely monitor the supply situation until mid-2026, with potential procurement from CXMT if DRAM supply remains tight and prices continue to rise [8][9]