It is predicted that the price of graphic DRAM will also rise due to the cryptocurrency craze that has been continuing since the end of last year, mainly with Bitcoin.
In a recent report released by Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce on the 18th, the price of graphic DRAM contracts in the second quarter of this year will rise 10-15% from the previous quarter (1st quarter 2021) due to demand from various cryptocurrency mining activities. Expected.
Graphic DRAM is a memory used for graphic processing such as images and moving pictures. In PCs, video playback devices, and high-performance game consoles, graphics or video are processed quickly according to the command of the GPU.
However, it is an analysis that as the graphics card is used for cryptocurrency mining, it will affect the price of graphic DRAM. Due to such demand, Nvidia, an American GPU manufacturer, also launched a Cryptocurrency Mining Processor (CMP), a graphics card dedicated to cryptocurrency mining.
Trend Force predicted that “the demand for graphics cards for cryptocurrency mining is still strong,” and “Unless the value of mainstream cryptocurrencies undergoes a rapid change, the supply situation will remain tight.”
In the second quarter, the price of DRAM is expected to show considerable strength, such as an increase of 10% or more in various fields as well as for graphics, according to Trend Force.
In the case of PC DRAM, prices in the second quarter are expected to increase by 13-18% compared to the previous quarter due to the strong notebook market. As notebook production is expected to maintain solid momentum in 2Q, demand for PC-use DRAM continues to increase.
PC set makers are only holding low inventory levels of 4 to 5 weeks, and DRAM prices are expected to continue to rise due to the supercycle of the memory semiconductor market. Trend Force explained.
Server DRAM prices are expected to rise by 20% from the previous quarter in the second quarter, which is the peak season for traditional server shipments. Trend Force announced that server DRAM customers will be more active in building inventory during the second quarter and will increase their purchases every month.
Mobile DRAM prices are also expected to show strong strength as smartphone makers are expected to continue their active purchasing activities. This is because it focuses on supplying stable parts in preparation for the shortage of semiconductor supply.
Trend Force said that consumer DRAMs supplied to general consumers will also be driven by demand from the so-called’Zipcock’ economy, which will lead to higher prices. This is because demand for network devices such as TVs and set-top boxes, 5G and Wi-Fi is still strong.
In addition, DRAM makers also switched the production process of DDR3 products to products with high margins such as logic semiconductors, which were also cited as a factor of price fluctuation. Trend Force explained, “Some consumer DRAM prices are likely to increase by more than 20% compared to the previous quarter, and there is room for further increase.”
