PC OEMs increase orders for DDR3

PC MAKERS are increasing their orders for DDR3 RAM modules but are having a devil of a time finding enough DDR2.

Most of the OEMs are buying DDR3 from Samsung, but it is not as if DDR2 is fading away. Elpida Memory is seeking additional supply of DDR2 chips from its partner Powerchip to meet increased demand from customers.

According to DRAMexchange, the DRAM contract market is booming after the Chinese Lunar New Year break. In the spot market, data show that average prices for branded 1Gb DDR2 memory rose 1.17 per cent to close at $2.42. The price is also 1.7 per cent higher than the $2.38 on the first trading day after the holiday. The 1Gb DDR3 segment was priced at $2.88, remaining stable this week. Average spot prices for DDR2 1Gb eTT chips were pushed up by 2.39 per cent to close at $2.31 on February 25.

Major vendors like Samsung, Hynix, Elpida and Micron Technology are all shifting their focuses to DDR3 output, and the big Taiwan-based DRAM producers are also increasing their DDR3 capacities.

However according to Digitimes, DDR2 buyers, especially from China, are concerned about reduced supply of the RAM after March and are building up their inventories. µ