Smartphones And Tablets Overtake PCs As Major Consumer Of DRAM Chips

The typical consumer may not realize all the individual components that are inside computer or a smartphone. There's a myriad of little chips inside devices sourced from all around the world for things such as memory and storage. DRAM chips are the key components inside computing devices and smartphones that allow them to operate more quickly.

Since the 1980s, computers have been the main consumer of DRAM chips in the technology industry. However, data released by research firm iSuppli last week showed a major change in DRAM consumption for the first time since the 80s. Computers used 49% of all DRAM chips manufactured in Q2 of this year.

That left other devices such as smartphones and tablets consuming 51% of all DRAM chips manufactured, overtaking the computer industry for the first time in decades. The percentages are expected to continue to tip in favor of tablets and smartphones. By the end of 2013, iSuppli predicts that PCs will use only 42.8% of the DRAM chips produced.

DRAM chips are used inside of computers and other devices to store short-term information to help shorten the time it takes to process information inside the computer. Long-term storage inside smartphones and computers typically use hard drives with magnetic platters or solid-state storage using NAND chips. ISuppli expects that with the market tipping towards mobile devices as the main consumer of DRAM chips, manufacturers will increasingly focus on making better chips for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

[via Reuters]