Micron's Journey: From 64K DRAM Pioneer to AI Hardware Powerhouse

February 8, 2026
Micron's Journey: From 64K DRAM Pioneer to AI Hardware Powerhouse
  • By the late 1980s, Micron’s innovations in DRAM, video RAM, and SRAM helped drive evolving PCs and graphics capabilities.

  • Today Micron holds roughly 60,000 patents and operates a global manufacturing footprint, strengthening its position to serve AI hyperscalers and other customers.

  • Micron’s worldwide manufacturing network positions it as a leading supplier for AI hyperscale data centers and broader AI hardware needs.

  • The story centers on Micron's long arc of rising to a leadership role in the AI hardware supply chain, marked by ups and downs in memory demand that demanded tenacity.

  • Fueled by the AI boom, Micron has seen growing demand for its memory products through data-center buildouts and ongoing memory-market cycles, underscoring its continuing role in AI infrastructure.

  • The piece places Micron in the context of an AI stock rebirth, noting that many top AI players emerged from legacy tech firms rather than new startups.

  • In the early 1980s, Micron opened a Boise fabrication plant and produced 64K DRAM that helped popularize early PCs, including the Commodore 64.

  • Micron’s initial focus included designing a 64-kilobit memory chip, paving the way for a Boise plant by 1981 and later advancing to 1-megabit DRAM by 1987.

  • By 1981, the Boise fabrication facility was operational, and Micron’s 64K DRAM contributed to the popularity of early personal computers.

  • A disclaimer notes that Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations pertain to specific individuals and companies, with past returns cited for illustration.

  • Micron advanced memory technology through the late 1980s, hitting 1 megabit DRAM in 1987 and expanding into video RAM and fast SRAM to support PCs and graphics cards.

  • The company broadened its memory offerings to DRAM, video RAM, and fast static RAM, aiding PC adoption and the Windows operating system ecosystem.

Summary based on 4 sources


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