While the current RAM shortage due to AI usage is not news by any means, the way businesses are responding to it certainly is. We've seen Framework announce two price increases in the space of two weeks due to the shortage, and we've even seen a popular brand of DRAM exit the consumer market altogether as it attempts to divert all of its efforts into appeasing the bottomless pit that is AI usage.

However, there was one tiny sliver of hope. A recent rumor circulating the internet claimed that Asus was planning to enter the DRAM market in hopes of alleviating pressure on the market and allowing sticks to fall to more manageable prices again. Unfortunately, Asus has stepped forward to tell us that, no, it's not actually planning that. Dangit.

Asus denies rumors that it will enter the DRAM market

The rumor was pretty thin, to be honest

As spotted by Tom's Hardware, a rumor began on SahktAfzahMag with insiders claiming that Asus would enter the RAM market. It already uses its own sticks in its devices, but the insiders believed that Asus would move to selling RAM on shelves in the second half of 2026. And given how SahktAfzahMag has a pretty good track record, it was a lofty but believable rumor.

Unfortunately, as reported by CNA, that's not the case. As written in its news report (machine translated):

ASUS clarified to CNA today that it has no plans to invest in a memory wafer fab.

[...]

Analysts believe that investing in and building a memory chip factory would take at least two years to get it into production, which would not solve the current supply problem. Furthermore, the economic climate and prices two years from now are highly uncertain. Investing a huge amount of money in building a memory chip factory at this time would be extremely risky. ASUS would likely focus on its core competencies.

So, yes, while it is a shame that Asus isn't swooping into the RAM market to save us from this shortage issue, it seems the company just doesn't have the capacity to go to market. And if it tried, it would arrive for a few years, after which the problem would have likely resolved itself. Well, it was nice to think about it while it lasted.