PC DRAM contract prices rose this quarter, but momentum slowed. High costs weakened PC sales, cooling negotiations and ending the extreme seller's market. Spot markets stabilized, while long-term contracts anticipate gradual, sustained price increases.
As major manufacturers exit mature processes, the constrained supply of niche DRAM continues to drive contract prices upward in a seller-dominated market, with price hikes shifting toward mid-capacity products. Due to limited capacity, Taiwanese suppliers' strategies are diverging: some prioritize enterprise SSD clients and advance to mainstream specifications, while others continue to rely heavily on legacy products.
Server demand is lifting 2Q26 RDIMM contract prices, while the spot market remains weak. SK hynix has seen a surge in profits and is ramping up mass production of new products. Amid low inventory and capacity bottlenecks, RDIMM prices have overtaken HBM; however, SK hynix is prioritizing long-term balance between HBM and conventional DRAM over short-term gains.
Global Server Market – Trends and Outlook for 2Q26
Global CSPs expand AI infrastructure investment, with Google and Microsoft leading on TPU and GPU racks while Chinese peers diversify amid geopolitical constraints.
Contract price hikes slow, yet LTAs/prepayment lock profit. Spot drops on weak demand. TCO-led CXL complements RDIMM.
AI server demand stays robust with GB leading H1; Rubin ramps in Q3. ASIC share dips slightly as GPU dominates. Component shortages cap general server growth. Liquid cooling competition intensifies.
DRAM supply remains tight across segments; contract prices rise in 2Q26, led by mobile DRAM, as buyers rush to replenish amid shrinking supplier inventory.
Arm's AGI CPU marks a strategic shift from IP licensor to platform provider, targeting AI data centers and accelerating Arm's gains against x86.
Tight supply drastically boosts memory contract prices, though spot markets stall. Meanwhile, novel AI inference processors demand massive server memory, fundamentally driving strong future market growth.
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