According to Japanese media reports, due to tight memory supply, major manufacturers such as HP, Asus, and Acer have begun to adopt DRAM from Chinese memory maker Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) in small quantities for some entry-level laptops. This signifies that CXMT has entered the supply chain of major global PC brands, but the quantity currently used is extremely limited, and only applies to models sold outside of the U.S. market.
Currently, CXMT prioritizes most of its production capacity for Chinese customers such as Huawei.
A knowledgeable source indicated that, as many companies are scrambling for DRAM supply, it is currently not possible to pre-order CXMT capacity for future quarters.
Several major PC manufacturers completed the verification process for Changxin's DRAM chips earlier this year. To avoid offending leading memory chip makers Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, PC brands are cautious and low-profile in their approach to adopting Changxin's products. Acer did not disclose its suppliers but said it would diversify its supply base; Asus declined to comment; HP and Changxin did not respond.
According to insiders, the price of CXMT's DRAM is not lower than that of major players such as Samsung. CXMT is listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as a company alleged to have ties to the Chinese military, causing U.S. enterprises concerns when it comes to procurement.
Acer chairman Jason Chen maintains an open attitude towards procuring memory from mainland Chinese manufacturers. He previously pointed out that, in discussions, mainland suppliers tend to prioritize Chinese companies: "Even if we want to buy, it's not easy to procure," and that future procurement strategies would be evaluated from an overall industry perspective.
CXMT is already capable of mass-producing at scale, with DDR5 and LPDDR5X products reaching yields above 90%, and technical specifications are very close to those of international major manufacturers.
More importantly, Changxin's current production capacity remains primarily focused on general-purpose DRAM, unlike other major players who have heavily shifted to HBM. This allows CXMT to quickly meet the shortage demand in the consumer electronics market.