Amid a severe global memory shortage that has sent DDR5 prices soaring, reports recently suggested that Asus was preparing to manufacture its own DRAM chips to ease supply constraints. Some publications claimed the Taiwanese company could enter memory production as early as 2026, potentially helping stabilize prices and improve compatibility across its laptops, desktops, and motherboards.
However, Asus has now clearly denied these rumors.
In a statement to Taiwanese media outlet CNA, Asus said it has no plans to build or operate a memory fabrication facility, despite strong demand driven by AI workloads and data-center expansion. Instead, the company says it will continue working closely with existing memory suppliers, optimizing specifications and managing product lifecycles to navigate the shortage.
Industry analysts back Asus’s position, noting that launching a production-ready DRAM fab would take at least two years, require massive capital investment, and demand specialized expertise Asus does not possess. Even if started today, such a facility would do little to address the current shortage, which SK Hynix believes could last until 2028.
While some observers pointed to Chinese memory maker CXMT as a potential partner, that company faces its own scaling challenges due to U.S. export restrictions on manufacturing equipment.
For now, Asus appears focused on business as usual, sourcing memory externally, passing on higher component costs to consumers, and avoiding risky long-term bets that could backfire if the AI-driven hardware boom cools.
Bottom line
Asus isn’t entering the DRAM manufacturing business. The idea may sound appealing amid sky-high memory prices, but the timeline, costs, and risks make it unrealistic, and Asus itself says “no.”
