Tag: computer chip

  • The global chip shortage timeline of events, and when it could end

    The global chip shortage timeline of events, and when it could end

    The global chip shortage is still raging on and it’s effecting more business sectors than you might expect. As a technology provider we’re certainly feeling the pinch when it comes to ordering hardware for our clients. The delays have challenged us to get creative with our clients and we’re coming up with interim solutions until hardware makes it in.

    Some vendors are certainly meeting the needs for computer hardware better than others, so that buffet of choice you may be used to is a thing of the past – at least for the moment. We’re thankful for our channel connections as they give us an edge when ordering that the ordinary consumer may not have.

    We’re not the only ones feeling the pinch though, car manufacturers, appliances, even children’s toys. Consumers are being told they should consider purchasing their children’s wish list items earlier this year, if you wait those electric wish list items may be long gone before December. We’ve even seen it suggested that you may want to consider “dumb” toys such as those made of wood that are unaffected by the chip shortage. Lincoln logs anyone?

    Here is a simple timeline of events for the chip shortages, which started long before the pandemic in 2018.

    Global Chip Shortage Timeline
    Click to Download the Full Size Version

    As you can see the chip shortages definitely didn’t start with the pandemic, but it did exacerbate the existing problems greatly. Shortages in components, shortages in labor, shipping delays are all contributing to worldwide pains that have even led to products exceeding their MSRP.

    The graphic card market sums up the problem succinctly, with scalpers taking advantage of the low stock to sell cards for hundreds of dollars outside of their MSRP.

    No one can say for sure when the chip shortages will end, but major players such as Intel and chip-making behemoth TSMC are all looking to bring manufacturing state side to help. This would at least cut down on shipping times and if future global trade issues were to occur the US electronic manufacturers would be much better prepared for it.

    These are not permanent fixes though as component shortages are an ever-growing issue that needs to be addressed. We don’t know what a long-term solution will look like but more investments into infrastructure could easy the burden in the short term.

    For more information on the time line of events for the global chip shortage we suggesting reading this article which goes into more details about the timeline of events since 2018 and other global factors that have occurred.

    If you’re having difficult sourcing hardware for your business, Valley Techlogic can help. We have channel connections that allow us priority buying for our clients and should you be interested in partnering with us we can extend those benefits to your business. Reach out today to learn more.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley TechLogic, an IT service provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic.

  • The Semiconductor Shortage Is Affecting Products Worldwide – When Will It End?

    The Semiconductor Shortage Is Affecting Products Worldwide – When Will It End?

    As we approach the summer and more than a year since the pandemic began, it seems like there is no end to the shortages that seem to be a staple piece of pandemic life.

    The reasons for the various shortages are complex, but mostly fall to issues with production and the stockpiling of products as consumers and businesses alike try to “weather out” the various (and sometimes self-created) storms.

    The shortages are interlinked with each other as well, it doesn’t seem like a shortage in lumber for instance would be tied to the semiconductor shortage but in a way it is. Ramping up production often requires a ramp up in machinery and that machinery is powered by computer chips.

    Consumers are also feeling the shortages when it comes to auto sales, with used cars being worth significantly more than they were pre-pandemic.

    Now in addition to cars, we’re seeing shortages in televisions and refrigerators that also use the chips. Appliance delivery is being backed up for months for some consumers. Homeowners and would be homeowners across the country are feeling the pinch on all sides with shortages in both appliances and lumber.

    Also, not exactly connected to the semiconductor shortage but in the computer sector we’re also seeing shortages with hard drives, driven by the new cryptocurrency Chia.

    While being advertised as an “ecofriendly” crypto, it’s been found that the mining of Chia can burn out a drive in a matter of weeks. Prices of drives are skyrocketing in response (if you’re able to find hard drives to purchase at all).

    In a nutshell, buying a computer right now could be difficult and more expensive.

    So, what are chip manufacturers doing about it? The world’s largest chip manufacturer, TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), has been quoted as saying they expect to catch up to the automotive demand for chips by June. Although some speculate this is highly ambitious.

    Tech News #11

    Beyond the automotive sector, Samsung is considering delaying the release of the latest Galaxy phone series while shortages remain. Manufacturers will have to work with the capacity limits for production by suspending or delaying certain product launches.

    As for the chip manufacturers themselves, it’s expected production will increase eventually while demand may cool as life returns to normal in many sectors of the country. It’s expected a leveling out will occur by 2022 with consumers and business’s alike having to work around the shortages in the meantime.

    If your business needs to replace computers or computer parts, we can help. We have connections that may assist with getting products more expediently than you can get on your own and with closer to normal pricing. Contact us for a consultation here.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these tech articles from the last week.

    This article was powered by Valley TechLogic, an IT provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic.

  • Hardware Shortages May Continue Into 2022, So What Can Consumers Do About It?

    Hardware Shortages May Continue Into 2022, So What Can Consumers Do About It?

    COVID related hardware shortages and merchandising shortages in general are not new, since the beginning of the pandemic we have seen shortages in food, toilet paper, cleaning products and even personal protective equipment (PPE) frontline workers desperately needed to stay safe.

    Many of these shortages have been solved by an uptick in production. However, computer and electronic related shortages have been some of the worst hit and so far, the longest lasting with many experts saying we won’t see an end to them until 2022.

    At the beginning of the pandemic as schools closed and many jobs went remote the shortages when it came to laptops and desktops made sense, students and workers needed devices to continue to learn and work on.

    We saw that these shortages were solved when popular PC makers ramped up production and pushed forward new product launches to entice this entirely new market of PC consumers – many of which had abandoned bulkier hardware in favor of small and portable smart phones in years prior. It was common during this time for households to go from a single PC in the home to several.

    Now as we’ve stepped into 2021, we’re seeing shortages when it comes to the components these devices are made of. Especially when it comes to computer chips otherwise known as semi-conductors.

    We’re going to get a little technical here, a semi-conductor (or integrated chip) is a series of electronic circuits printed onto a conducting material, usually silicon. These chips form the brain of your electronic equipment. Tech News #3

    have been reported well before the pandemic hit (and are certainly be making things even worse). These silicon shortages don’t just effect PCs and laptops, cellphones, gaming equipment, even cars.

    Our growing demand for electronics has created the silicon shortage and we don’t as of yet have a solution that would allow us to keep our current breakneck pace when it comes to new electronic product launches. Many solutions center around increasing the longevity of existing products and ending planned obsolescence by allowing outside vendors to fix OEM products without voiding a customer’s warranty (as an example).

    On top of the silicon shortage, Bitcoin and Bitcoin related mining has also seen a resurgence in popularity. Powerful Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) are needed to make Bitcoin mining as efficient and productive as possible and as such we’re seeing GPUs skyrocket in price, many selling for several times their MSRP.

    It’s expected that it will take until 2022 for vendors and factories to catch up and prices to begin to stabilize. If you’re in the market for a new computer or laptop in the interim, you may find yourself in for a wait and a price hike.

    If you run or own a business, having a technology service provide like Valley Techlogic behind you can assist you in your business’s hardware needs. We have special relationships with our vendors and can use those to our customers advantage, saving them both time and money.

    If you’re a business owner located in the Central Valley and your office is due for a hardware upgrade, reach out today to find out what we can do for you.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these tech articles from the last week.

    This article was powered by Valley TechLogic, an IT provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic.