CNBC reports that demand for memory has increased to the point that it has triggered a chip shortage in the semiconductor industry, driving prices up, an economic crisis that will impact the technology industry into 2027.
Due to supply chain issues, x86 server prices have skyrocketed between 2025 and 2026. Severe Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) and NAND shortages have driven prices up each quarter with more hikes expected. Counterpoint Research predicted 50% quarter over quarter (QoQ) price increases for DRAM and 90% QoQ price increases for NAND.
These price hikes, combined with Central Processing Unit (CPU) supply constraints from Intel and AMD, are driving weekly hardware cost increases. Spikes in component pricing have been predicted by the end of 2026.
The rise of AI is increasing the demand for memory even more. Much of the memory supplied by leaders in the semiconductor industry is going to AI infrastructure, draining supplies from other markets. Enterprises needing to scale databases such as Oracle or MongoDB are facing sticker shock just when adding servers or refreshing aging fleets.
Adopting IBM LinuxONE can help companies overcome memory shortages and related price hikes through core consolidation and massive shared memory. Pairing LinuxONE with IBM FlashSystems brings added economic benefits.
Core Consolidation through IBMÂ LinuxONE
LinuxONE is powered by the Telum II processor, allowing users to consolidate dozens or hundreds of x86 servers onto a single system while using far fewer cores and leveraging a massive, centrally shared memory pool. The economic benefits of core consolidation include the dramatic lowering of hardware acquisition costs. LinuxONE users also experience reduced per-core software licensing.
Other cost benefits include lower power and cooling expenses, and a smaller data center footprint for greater sustainability. All these cost savings can be accomplished without sacrificing performance or availability.
How LinuxONEÂ Meets Supply Chain Challenges
Core consolidation through LinuxONE means that fewer, more powerful cores replace racks of x86 servers. LinuxONE uses high-efficiency IBM Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) cores that deliver superior throughput per core for enterprise workloads. A single LinuxONE core can replace thousands of x86 cores for production, non-production, or disaster recovery environments, easing the demand for x86 and lowering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
LinuxONE enables Oracle Database consolidation with TCO savings. Typically, Oracle software is licensed per core, so core consolidation dramatically lowers software costs. Even higher ratios of consolidation can be achieved for MongoDB or containerized workloads because of LinuxONE’s ability to run at high percentages of sustained utilization.
Because LinuxONE users need far fewer cores overall, they sidestep the CPU shortage and inflated x86 pricing entirely. Dynamic capacity on demand with LinuxONE lets users activate spare cores instantly without making new hardware purchases.
Economic Benefits of Massive Shared Memory
x86 sprawl multiplies memory demand because every server needs its own Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM). Shortages have made Random Access Memory (RAM) one of the most expensive components in 2026.
LinuxONE takes the opposite approach from x86 by providing massive shared memory through one centralized pool instead of thousands of expensive DIMMs. LinuxONE uses a single system with up to 64 TB of high-speed Redundant Array of Independent Memory (RAIM) that is dynamically shared across logical partitions (LPARs), z/VM guests, or KVM containers.
Massive memory sharing in LinuxONE works through a centralized memory architecture with four levels of cache, including a massive on-chip L4 cache which is 40% larger in Telum II. This centralized architecture means that data stays in memory longer, slashing Input/Output (I/O) to reduce bottlenecks and latency and enabling huge database caches. One large memory pool avoids the need for duplication by serving hundreds of consolidated workloads, versus buying separate DIMMs for every x86 node.
Linux enables dynamic memory reallocation in which users can add or remove memory from running LPARs with zero downtime for greater availability. This capability is perfect for Oracle System Global Area (SGA) resizing or MongoDB cache tuning.
Benefits of Massive Shared Memory for Oracle and MongoDB
With LinuxONE’s large memory model, users can run massive in-memory Oracle databases in a single instance without sharding, delivering sub-millisecond response times while consolidating dozens of x86 nodes.
MongoDB users can scale large single-node or lightly sharded cluster vertically on LinuxONE’s shared memory, reducing replica-set overhead and simplifying operations. Real-world deployments of MongoDB on LinuxONE routinely hit multi-TB working sets on one footprint.
Because LinuxONE concentrates and efficiently utilizes memory, users buy far less physical RAM overall, dodging the 2026 shortage and price surge.
IBMÂ LinuxONEÂ and IBMÂ FlashSystems: Combined Benefits
When paired with IBM FlashSystems, the economic advantages of LinuxONE compound. Fiber Channel Protocol (FCP) connectivity gives LinuxONE low-latency block access to FlashSystems’ millions of Input/Output Operations per Second (IOPS) and sub-100 µs latency. With LinuxONE and FlashSystems, Oracle Automatic Storage Management (ASM) or MongoDB data files sit on high-performance, cyber-resilient volumes with Safeguarded Copy immutability and policy-based disaster recovery replication. The entire stack runs at high utilization with minimal hardware, allowing your company to escape from x86 constraints.
When working together, LinuxONE and FlashSystems deliver Return on Investment (ROI) and futureproofing. Due to reduced energy consumption and a smaller footprint, TCO for hardware, software, and energy lowers. Built-in redundancy, Live Partition Mobility, and non-disruptive scaling provide 99.999999% availability.
Realizing Cost Savings Using LinuxONE and FlashSystems
While x86 buyers are stuck paying premiums for acquiring the scarce processors and memory they need to scale out, LinuxONE lets you scale up intelligently using fewer resources more efficiently. LinuxONE isn’t just less expensive; it’s simpler, greener, and far more resilient. If your company is facing Oracle or MongoDB sprawl and rising x86 quotes, pairing LinuxONE with FlashSystems can generate savings for your workloads through core consolidation and massive shared memory.
As a certified IBM Partner, PSR delivers expertise in LinuxONE and FlashSystems. We can work with your company to evaluate your budget and supply chain challenges and design a server and storage solution that meets your memory and performance needs without breaking the bank.
Find out more about PSR IBM FlashSystem solutions and services and how we can pair them with LinuxONE by visiting our website.