Many DRAM makers have been shifting production capacities to mobile DRAM while acknowledging growing tablet PC demand in contrast to stagnant sales of conventional computers, according to industry sources. However, concerns have also been raised recently about a possible glut of the chips used in newly popular mobile computers.
Tablet PC sales thus far in 2011 seem to have been less optimistic than the outlook given earlier in the year, the sources pointed out. The mobile DRAM supply chain is likely to see oversupply pressure if demand is not strong enough to keep pace with chip suppliers' output growth, the sources said.
Even demand for mobile RAM is booming, DRAM makers might find the trend towards replacing conventional PCs and notebooks with tablets unfavorable to their situation, the sources indicated. Consumption of DRAM chips is expected to shrink as tablet computers use less DRAM per device.
For tablets, memory densities range from 512MB to 2GB at present while conventional PCs come with generally 3-4GB of DRAM.