Major memory companies are accelerating their investments in 1c (6th-generation 10nm-class) DRAM. Samsung Electronics has already begun building mass production lines since the first half of this year, and SK Hynix is reportedly discussing specific plans for its recent conversion investment. Micron also received subsidies from the Japanese government this month for its new 1c DRAM facility.
According to industry sources on the 21st, major memory companies are focusing on new and conversion investments for mass production of 1c DRAM.
1c DRAM is a next-generation DRAM that major memory companies are aiming to mass produce in the second half of this year. Samsung Electronics has decided to proactively adopt 1c DRAM in its HBM4 (6th-generation high-bandwidth memory). SK Hynix and Micron plan to utilize 1c DRAM in general-purpose DRAM, including servers.
Samsung Electronics is most aggressively expanding its 1c DRAM production capacity. It is currently building a new 1c DRAM mass production line at its Pyeongtaek Campus 4 (P4) and is also pursuing investments in converting its Hwaseong Line 17 to 1c DRAM. The production capacity it will secure by the end of the year is estimated to reach a maximum of 60,000 wafers per month.
SK Hynix announced in its Q2 2025 earnings announcement in July that "the conversion investment for 1c DRAM will begin in the second half of this year and will be fully implemented next year," and that "we are currently establishing a management plan and will share the specific plan once it is finalized."
According to industry sources, the conversion investment is likely to take place at the M14 fab in Icheon. M14 is a fab that has been repurposing some of its existing NAND lines for DRAM mass production. SK Hynix is currently discussing plans to remove the older DRAM facilities there and introduce a 1c DRAM line.
A semiconductor industry insider explained, "The 1c process can be used not only for high value-added DRAM for servers, but also for HBM4E (7th generation HBM), so it is an area that SK Hynix is paying attention to," and "Although facility investment has not been confirmed yet, we expect active investment to be made in all areas of the process next year."
https://zdnet.co.kr/view/?no=20250919154604
According to industry sources on the 21st, major memory companies are focusing on new and conversion investments for mass production of 1c DRAM.
1c DRAM is a next-generation DRAM that major memory companies are aiming to mass produce in the second half of this year. Samsung Electronics has decided to proactively adopt 1c DRAM in its HBM4 (6th-generation high-bandwidth memory). SK Hynix and Micron plan to utilize 1c DRAM in general-purpose DRAM, including servers.
Samsung Electronics is most aggressively expanding its 1c DRAM production capacity. It is currently building a new 1c DRAM mass production line at its Pyeongtaek Campus 4 (P4) and is also pursuing investments in converting its Hwaseong Line 17 to 1c DRAM. The production capacity it will secure by the end of the year is estimated to reach a maximum of 60,000 wafers per month.
SK Hynix announced in its Q2 2025 earnings announcement in July that "the conversion investment for 1c DRAM will begin in the second half of this year and will be fully implemented next year," and that "we are currently establishing a management plan and will share the specific plan once it is finalized."
According to industry sources, the conversion investment is likely to take place at the M14 fab in Icheon. M14 is a fab that has been repurposing some of its existing NAND lines for DRAM mass production. SK Hynix is currently discussing plans to remove the older DRAM facilities there and introduce a 1c DRAM line.
A semiconductor industry insider explained, "The 1c process can be used not only for high value-added DRAM for servers, but also for HBM4E (7th generation HBM), so it is an area that SK Hynix is paying attention to," and "Although facility investment has not been confirmed yet, we expect active investment to be made in all areas of the process next year."
https://zdnet.co.kr/view/?no=20250919154604