"What the post-PC era does mean is that personal computers are not at the center of the technology universe anymore -- and are seeing their hegemony over the electronics supply chain erode," he continued. "PCs are no longer generating the kind of growth and overwhelming market size that can single-handedly drive demand, pricing and technology trends in some of the major technology businesses."

DRAM suppliers are turning their attention to serving the needs of fast-expanding new markets for smartphones and tablets, Leimbach said.

The DRAM dip is only one of several indicators that the PC industry is losing its influence. Others factors include "the declining power of the Wintel alliance, as well as Apple Inc.'s smartphone- and tablet-driven ascendency to chip purchasing leadership above traditional PC-oriented frontrunners like Hewlett-Packard," Leimbach said.

The downturn in PC market share of DRAM has been unfolding for years; in the first quarter of 2008, DRAM sales for PCs hovered at approximately 55%.

Lucas Mearian covers storage, disaster recovery and business continuity, financial services infrastructure and health care IT for Computerworld. Follow Lucas on Twitter at or subscribe to . His e-mail address is .