AI servers
Coverage of AI servers in the Nexus archive.
- Presidents aren’t supposed to pick winners, former White House ethics lawyer says. Trump keeps choosing Dell
President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Dell multiple times, coinciding with stock price increases, while a former White House ethics lawyer criticized presidential influence in business. Dell's stock gains are also attributed to contracts with AI data centers and a Department of Defense deal.
- DRAM it! Cheap PCs being priced out of existence as memory cost bites
Rising component costs, particularly for DRAM and NAND, are driving up PC prices and eroding sales of sub-$500 models. US PC unit sales fell 7% year-on-year in Q1 2024, with HP losing its top position to Dell, as memory shortages and AI server demand shift supply chains.
- AI boom sparks Kingboard subsidiary’s US$1.5 billion stake sale to ramp up PCB capacity
Kingboard Holdings plans to raise HK$11.77 billion (US$1.5 billion) by selling a stake in its listed subsidiary, Kingboard Laminates Holdings, to expand production capacity for circuit board materials used in AI servers amid surging demand.
- As Japanese and Korean giants move upmarket, China’s MLCC firms see their chance
Japanese and South Korean multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) makers are shifting to higher-end markets due to rising demand for AI servers, creating opportunities for Chinese competitors to capture lower-end segments despite their technological disadvantages. MLCCs are critical components in electronics, used in devices like smartphones and electric vehicles.
- AMD takes a third of server CPU market as shipments grow
AMD captured 33.2% of the server CPU market in Q1 2026, driven by strong growth in AI server demand, while overall x86 processor shipments declined. Intel's server CPU shipments remained flat, and its client CPU market share increased slightly due to supply constraints affecting AMD's desktop performance.
- Expect more of those DRAM price hikes as memory shortage continues to bite
DRAM prices doubled in Q1 2024 and are projected to rise by 58-63% in the current quarter due to a persistent AI-driven memory shortage. Suppliers prioritize high-capacity DRAM for AI servers, limiting availability for PCs and smartphones. Key manufacturers like Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are expanding HBM production, with new capacity expected by 2027-2028.
- Memory crunch sends PC prices into double-digit climb
PC prices in Europe have risen by double-digit percentages due to shortages of DRAM and NAND memory, driven by increased demand for high-bandwidth memory in AI servers. Notebook and desktop prices climbed 11.4% and 10.5% year-on-year, respectively, despite declining unit sales, as manufacturers prioritize premium devices amid supply chain constraints.
- Dell shares jump 19% after server maker reports fastest sales growth since return to public market in 2018
Dell shares increased by 19% following the company's fastest sales growth since returning to the public market in 2018. The company is now focused on high-growth AI servers equipped with graphics processing units.
- What it would take to rebuild U.S. manufacturing might
McKinsey estimates the U.S. would need $2 trillion, or 6% of GDP, to rebuild industrial capacity for strategic goods like AI servers and key chemicals. The study highlights gaps in domestic manufacturing and the challenges of scaling up sectors beyond AI, despite recent investments like the CHIPS and Science Act.
- As memory prices squeeze enterprise buyers, Lenovo laughs all the way to the bank
Lenovo reported strong Q4 fiscal 2026 results with $14.6 billion in revenue and $1 billion operating profit, outperforming competitors amid memory price surges by shifting to premium devices. The company expects unit shipments to decline in fiscal 2027 but plans to maintain or grow revenue through higher average unit pricing and AI integration.
- Tin demand for AI servers to triple by 2030, analyst says
Demand for tin used in AI servers is projected to triple by 2030, according to an analyst.