Micron's Journey: From 64K DRAM Pioneer to AI Hardware Powerhouse
February 8, 2026
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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Sources

The Motley Fool • Feb 8, 2026
How This AI Stock Went From a Dentist's Basement to Become an Industry Leader | The Motley Fool
The Globe and Mail • Feb 8, 2026
How This AI Stock Went From a Dentist's Basement to Become an Industry Leader
The Globe and Mail • Feb 8, 2026
How This AI Stock Went From a Dentist's Basement to Become an Industry Leader
The Globe and Mail • Feb 8, 2026
How This AI Stock Went From a Dentist's Basement to Become an Industry Leader