Apple Begins Testing Controversial Chinese Memory Chips

[MacRumors]

Apple is testing DRAM memory chips from China's state-backed ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), according to a new report from the Financial Times.

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Article Link: Apple Begins Testing Controversial Chinese Memory Chips

 

[rbbloom99]

This is a good thing. I mean what could possibly go wrong 😉

 

[VulchR]

For multiple reasons the US must invest in a domestic chip-making industry rather than relying on the PRC.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

If it’s in the same market then it’s good but I don’t think it’s safe if they have to use different companies because it could cause reliability issues here.

 

[nickf]

I'm entirely relaxed about Apple using Chinese DRAM. If it lowers prices by all means go for it.

 

[963852741]

So I can haz cheap RAM again or not?

 

[Biro]

For multiple reasons the US must invest in a domestic chip-making industry rather than relying on the PRC.

Very true. But fabs aren’t going to come online overnight. There will be a number of years before enough domestic chips are readily available. Meanwhile, the memory shortage exists right now. I see no problem with keeping the Chinese chips in devices sold in China so that supply pressure can be eased elsewhere.

 

[attila]

As long as Open AI doesn't ruin everything and start preordering their chips as well...

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

I couldn't care less if the chips are made in China. If it lowers the cost, and prevents price hikes - I am all for it.

 

[StevieD100]

I wonder if this is for devices that are for sale in China? That would resolve any US DOD security problems.

 

[Kottu]

All data from the primary memory will be converted into Chinese and stored to save space. 😂

 

[rp100]

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are going to get f’ed by their own shenanigans.

The PRC will invest HUGE money into CXMT so they can rapidly expand their production. Once the inevitable AI bubble pops and the price fixing ends market demand stabilizes, CXMT will continue to run their factories at full capacity and undercut all the other players. This is a textbook move by a Chinese company to steal away market share - you’d think the big 3 weren’t that obtuse….

 

[hovscorpion12]

THEY RUINED IT. China is not the answer. Go back.

+$1,000 price increase

 

[iBluetooth]

So I can haz cheap RAM again or not?

The RAM will not be much cheaper as the Chinese market is buying up all the memory also. But what helps is that the other big memory players have moved their focus into HBM memory for the AI data centers, and thus normal DRAM has been a victim. This would increase the options for DRAM.

 

[hovscorpion12]

So I can haz cheap RAM again or not?

NO. +$1,000 price hike

 

[Hajj.david]

Regarding the OP I would literally buy North Korean or Israeli RAM if it meant a breakup of the memory cartel

 

[hovscorpion12]

The RAM will not be much cheaper as the Chinese market is buying up all the memory also. But what helps is that the other big memory players have moved their focus into HBM memory for the AI data centers, and thus normal DRAM has been a victim. This would increase the options for DRAM.

Incorrect. Prices have increased +$1,000. Please see my post.

 

[iBluetooth]

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are going to get f’ed by their own shenanigans.

The PRC will invest HUGE money into CXMT so they can rapidly expand their production. Once the inevitable AI bubble pops and the price fixing ends market demand stabilizes, CXMT will continue to run their factories at full capacity and undercut all the other players. This is a textbook move by a Chinese company to steal away market share - you’d think the big 3 weren’t that obtuse….

You are missing one vital point in your logic. The memory that the big 3 moved most of their capacity into is HBM memory, which the Chinese don't make and don't have the knowledge yet. So, the demand for HBM will just increase.

 

[CWallace]

For multiple reasons the US must invest in a domestic chip-making industry rather than relying on the PRC.

Apple just announced up to $30 billion worth of investment in Broadcom to design and manufacture chips for them, and this follows Apple and Samsung signing a deal on chip production at Samsung's Austin, Texas fab.

I'm entirely relaxed about Apple using Chinese DRAM. If it lowers prices by all means go for it.

Since the chips will be used only in domestic Chinese market products to start, Chinese consumers would be the only ones to see pricing relief, I imagine.

 

[bodhisattva]

I sincerely hope it pans out better than OWC RAM! Over the years I've tried to resist paying premium for memory and have purchased many of chips from OWC. The life of each chip has ranged from 1 year to 5 max before I start seeing kernel panics all attributed to chip failure. I switch back to the original chips from Apple and poof... all issues disappear. Be nice to have affordable RAM that we can depend on not taking a long nap after a few years.

 

[963852741]

NO. +$1,000 price hike

Me not happy about that.

 

[ErneX]

“Controversial RAM”, that’s funny.

 

[Rafagon]

I don't want this controversial RAM in any of my devices, Apple. Keep it to yourselves.

 

[minik]

Diversify is a good thing.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip with 24GB RAM and 1TB now starts at $2,699.00
Base model 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max chip with 48GB RAM and 2TB now starts at $4,999.00.

M5 Pro
48GB of RAM is $600
64GB of RAM is $1,000

M5 Max
64GB of RAM is now $400
128GB of RAM is now $2,000

8TB is now $3,000.

Thank you, China. Apple should have kept everything where it was and eventually worked on a deal to reduce.

For the Ai bros. With MA Sales tax, an M5 Max 16" with 128GB/4TB is now $8,498.94