According to Duann, PC makers have to buy from SSD module makers because NAND vendors reduced allocation to the client/consumer PC market and redirected most NAND supply to data center products.
As a result, PC OEMs like Acer, Asus, Dell, and HP cannot get enough NAND or SSD supply directly from NAND manufacturers and have to turn to module makers for solid-state drives. The latter traditionally served end-users and had plenty of aftermarket products with enhanced performance and cooling, but now they increasingly serve PC makers instead.
I built my new PC in December 2024 because I knew Trump would fuck things up with tariffs, grifting, and general shitbaggery. So while all that did happen, I didn’t anticipate the AI hype being an even bigger issue. If anything, I just wish I had bought more ram. I had planned on getting more later.
I priced out my build last week for “fun” to see how much it would be now. I paid $1,200 or so, now it would be around $2,150. I would have just not bothered at that price.
I wish I had the foresight you did and built my PC beforehand. I didn’t drown myself in politics until after Trump won though