Thread

1. nullbio · 1789976267 · focus · HN ↗

   Will consumers actually get to purchase it though? Or are they just doubling it for frontier AI labs?

   1. Grimburger · 1789977537 · focus · HN ↗

      What does it matter?

      All supply is supply, despite what certain folks seem to believe.

      1. the_other · 1789978245 · focus · HN ↗

         It matters so that average people have a chance to own their means of production, and that the current hardware-grab by entrenched capital doesn't get to charge such high rent.

         1. chapz · 1789978590 · focus · HN ↗

            Frontier AI labs are customers just like the average Joe down the street. The only difference is who can bid more. Average Joe probably doesn't have millions or wont buy millions of chips.

            There are no privileged consumers that have "dedicated" amount of production, no matter the demand.

            1. franga2000 · 1789979384 · focus · HN ↗

               What point are you making by saying "they're just like the average Joe" followed immediately by saying they have so much more money that they can outbid the average Joe at any price point.

               If someone can dump 100x the money to get something I want, they're not "just like me".

               1. sysguest · 1789980095 · focus · HN ↗

                  yeah this

                  if I'm ordering 1 RAM and demanding some special customization, even mom-and-pop stores will just ignore me

                  but if I'm buying 100000000000 RAM, things change

         2. mitxela · 1789981752 · focus · HN ↗

            You won't ever own it as long as it comes from a company the size of Samsung.

            1. MatekCopatek · 1789982997 · focus · HN ↗

               I mean... You can buy a stick of RAM with Samsung chips on it and use it in your own machine to run a local model vs. paying for an Anthropic subscription. I assume that's what they're referring to, not owning Samsung stock.
         3. lazide · 1789982950 · focus · HN ↗

            Your average consumer is not even a citizen of the country where the company that makes this is based, or where the factories that produce it are.

            You can own stock, but other than that?

         4. lstodd · 1789983001 · focus · HN ↗

            "average people"'s means of production is their brains. which they have all the chances to own but often reject them.
   2. ilogik · 1789979010 · focus · HN ↗

      As far as I know, the only place HBM is used in consumer products is GPUs?

      1. intothemild · 1789980805 · focus · HN ↗

         HBM hasn't been used in a consumer GPU in some years. I think the RX 7900XT

         It's all GDDR6X or 7X

   3. user43928 · 1789991876 · focus · HN ↗

      I have read an interview with Acer's CEO claiming that the shortage is already over.

      He alleged memory maker's public announcements of the shortage lasting throughout the end of 2027 are attempts to covertly signal the others on pricing strategy.

      With additional production capacity ramping up this year and next, this seems somewhat plausible.

      If manufacturer's inventories are filling since they advanced orders when prices were rising, there could be an oversupply of memory when they don't place new orders at the higher current price.

      This could quickly result in a price war while capacity expansion and yield improvements create irreversible oversupply.

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