Microsoft predicts memory crisis will affect its revenue as struggling OEMs won't be as liberal with Windows spending

It was only a brief mention, but in Microsoft's recent earnings call, Microsoft Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Amy Hood explained that the ongoing memory crisis is expected to impact revenue from Windows purchases. Specifically, that is, from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

"Windows OEM revenue," Hood says, "should decline in the high teens with roughly six points of impact from a prior-year comparable that benefited from Windows 10 end of support, six points from inventory levels that we expect to come down for the quarter, and six points from a lower PC market as prices increase due to memory cost."

OEMs make pre-built PCs, and when you buy from one of these companies, if they don't come with Windows 11 by default they'll usually give you the choice to pay extra to have it installed. If you say yes to this, you'll have an 'OEM'...