tech
After nearly 30 years, Crucial will stop selling RAM to consumers
Micron cites AI data center demand as reason for killing DIY upgrade brand.
TL;DR
- Micron Technology will cease its Crucial consumer RAM and SSD business in February 2026.
- The company is prioritizing supply for AI data centers due to soaring demand for HBM.
- This move aims to improve supply and support for larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments.
- Micron will continue shipping Crucial products until February 2026 and honor existing warranties.
- The decision follows a sharp increase in memory prices, with DRAM contract prices up 171% year over year.
- AI infrastructure development, including projects like OpenAI's Stargate, is driving unprecedented demand for specialized DRAM.
- Memory manufacturers are reallocating production capacity from consumer products to more profitable enterprise components.
- Micron has presold its entire HBM output through 2026.
- The Crucial brand, launched in 1996, was a well-known name in the DIY PC upgrade market.
- Affected employees will be redeployed to other positions within Micron.