AI Boom Triggers Global SSD Shortage as NAND Makers Face Year-Long Backlogs

Expert Verified By

The AI Craze Has a New Victim — SSDs! Major manufacturers are struggling to meet demand

Story Highlight
  • A new report indicates that AI demand is causing a historic global SSD shortage.
  • Major NAND manufacturers have already backlogged by orders of more than a year.
  • The shortage could lead to an even higher increment in the SSD prices.

The AI revolution is upon us, and with it has come various challenges. Firstly, the debate about its ethical value is always ongoing, but the increased use is also leading to a shortage of PC components like storage devices. 

A new report suggests that the surging AI demand is causing a global SSD shortage. Major NAND flash manufacturers are reportedly behind on the required stock, while the stock has been booked for up to 2026 already. 

Why it matters: SSDs provide a much faster and efficient solution than HDDs. Plus, as the demand is mostly from data centers, it’s convenient as SSDs store directly on NAND Flash rather than disks like HDDs. 

Sabrent Rocket Enterprise NVMe
SSD prices could see a major rise due to a shortage from surging AI demand

With AI taking over, the global SSD demand is at its highest. Big manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Kioxia were all operating at surplus, but are now working at full capacity. 

Higher-capacity drives will see the real shortage because those are the ones that data centers and software companies usually require. But naturally, this would mean a price hike for the general users as well. 

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
Major manufacturers already have their stocks booked for up to a year

Earlier this year, it was reported that rising demand has increased SSD prices by 10%. However, with this in mind, things can go from bad to worse, as the shortage would mean an even higher increment in the prices. 

However, companies are now transitioning entirely to SSDs, so manufacturing is likely to increase. As they shift their focus away from HDDs, we may see a higher production of SSDs; however, a global shortage remains in place for now. 

What are your thoughts on AI causing a global SSD shortage? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum. 

 

 

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Ubisoft Still Wants Dual Protagonists In Future Assassin’s Creed Games Despite Shadows’ Backlash

Assassin's Creed Shadows associate game director claims Ubisoft plans to do dual protagonists in future titles if the narrative calls for it.

Ubisoft Market Value Has Fallen Below $1 Billion, Its Lowest Since 2012

Ubisoft's market cap has fallen below $1 billion for the first time since 2012 amid low game sales and underwhelming launches in recent years.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Unplayable On Switch 2 As Players Suffer Repeated Crashes

Assassin's Creed Shadows is plagued by a plethora of technical issues on Switch 2, causing continuous crashes for players affected by them.

Upcoming Assassin’s Creed Games To Heavily Focus On Parkour As Director Admits Shadows Missed The Mark

Assassin's Creed Shadows associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtois claims that Shadows and other RPG-era games missed the mark with parkour.

PS5 Dominates Black Friday Week, Accounts For 62% Total Sales In The UK And 47% In The US

Sony's PS5 has taken full advantage of the Black Friday week sale, as Xbox and Nintendo had a much smaller cut in comparison.