December 26, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — A prolonged imbalance in the global DRAM market is increasingly weighing on the PC industry, as memory suppliers prioritize capacity for servers and artificial intelligence workloads, tightening supply for consumer devices.

Asus explores in-house DRAM production

Against this backdrop, Asus is reported to be evaluating a potential move into DRAM manufacturing, with an earliest timeline around 2026. The move would mark an unusual step for a PC vendor seeking greater control over critical semiconductor components.

According to industry sources, Asus could consider establishing a dedicated DRAM production line by the end of the second quarter of 2026 if pricing and supply conditions fail to normalize. Market forecasts suggest the current memory shortage could extend through late 2027, with some scenarios stretching into 2028.

While Asus ranks among the world’s largest PC manufacturers, entering DRAM production would entail significant technical and financial hurdles. Advanced process technologies, yield optimization and sustained capital investment remain major barriers, even for well-capitalized players.

Any internally produced DRAM would likely be allocated first to Asus’s own PC portfolio, including notebooks and desktops sold under the Asus, ROG and TUF brands. Securing stable memory supply has become a strategic priority as component cost volatility threatens margins and product launch schedules.

The reported plans come as some traditional memory module brands scale back their presence in the PC segment. Crucial, for instance, operates as a module brand under Micron, which allocates its DRAM output primarily to higher-margin server and data center markets increasingly driven by AI demand.

Industry observers note that if Asus eventually generates surplus DRAM capacity beyond its internal needs, other PC vendors could benefit. However, the impact on the broader memory market is expected to remain limited in the near term.