RAM now represents 35 percent of bill of materials for HP PCs (arstechnica.com)

Article summary

HP's CFO reported that RAM now accounts for 35% of the bill of materials for HP PCs, up from 15-18% last quarter, due to a severe memory shortage. The company expects the shortage to continue, with memory costs increasing by 100% sequentially. To mitigate the impact, HP is trying to get customers interested in PCs with lower RAM specs and has raised PC prices. The company's Personal Systems business reported an 11% year-over-year increase in revenue for the quarter.

Main themes

• RAM shortage
• PC pricing
• Memory costs
• Tech industry trends
• Hardware optimization

What commenters say

• The RAM shortage is having a significant impact on the tech industry, with prices increasing dramatically and affecting the affordability of PCs.
• Some commenters believe that the shortage will lead to a shift towards more optimized software and hardware, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
• Others argue that the industry's focus on high specs and performance is driven by marketing and a desire to sell more hardware, rather than actual user needs.
• The rise of APUs and integrated graphics may eventually make dedicated graphics cards obsolete, further changing the landscape of the tech industry.
• Some users are finding ways to adapt to the shortage by optimizing their current hardware or seeking out alternative solutions, such as lower-spec PCs or different types of devices.
• The shortage is also highlighting issues of e-waste and sustainability, as users are forced to consider the environmental impact of their tech purchases.