Bit Density of Micron’s 1αnm DRAM Highest in the World
The author is an analyst of NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at hwdoh@nhqv.com. -- Ed.
In contrast to subdued market expectations, the bit density of Micron’s 1αnm DRAM, as analyzed through mass-produced products, looks to be the highest in the world. With the technology gap narrowing between the three leading DRAM companies, competition for capacity investment is likely to heat up moving ahead.
Micron’s 1αnm DRAM: Half pitch = 14.3nm
From Micron’s start to mass production of 1αnm DRAM in June, the industry has been analyzing the product. According to TechInsights analysis, Micron’s offering boasts bit density of 0.315Gb/mm2, from which a half-pitch of 14.3nm can be calculated. Such a scale represents the smallest cell size among DRAM products released on the market to date. Before this, Samsung Electronics (SEC)’s 1znm DRAM with 0.299Gb/mm2 was the leader in bit density for a commercial product.
In contrast to the market’s subdued expectations, it is now clear that Micron is mass-producing DRAM with the smallest cell size. In particular, this is meaningful in that it is a result achieved without advanced equipment such as EUV technology. On Jul 13, SK Hynix announced that it had started mass production of 1αnm products. SEC aims to mass-produce products with a line width of 14.0nm, which is smaller than that of Micron’s 1αnm DRAM, by the end of this year.
DRAM market competition intensifying
As the technology gap between the three leading DRAM companies narrows, competition to take a leading role is expected to intensify moving ahead. As bit growth from tech migration evens out, the strategy to secure market share through capacity investment is expected to accelerate even further. For the three leading firms, 2021 capex should prove the highest yet.
This year, SEC’s memory investment is expected to reach W20tn, SK Hynix W14tn, and Micron US$10bn. Driven by greater investment, DRAM shipment this year is to outpace that of last year: SEC +27% y-y, SK Hynix +21% y-y, and Micron +26% y-y. Increasing supply is to be concentrated in 2H21.