According to a report out of Korea, Samsung has started mass producing 18nm DRAM chips at its production facility in Hwaseong, south of Seoul. Initial volume is said to be small because Samsung Electronics had converted around 70 percent of its DRAM capacity to 20-nanometer level just last year. Thinner is always better in chip-making which means that 18nm DRAM chips will be better in efficiency and power consumption than a 20nm chip. Samsung is said to be the first in the industry to commercialize 18nm DRAM chips.
It appears that Samsung wants to extend its lead over its rivals in this market by steadily improving its chip-fabrication technology. SK Hynix, a major Samsung competitor, has plans to commercialize 18nm DRAM chips early next year while Micron Technology of the United States has currently halted a move from the 20nm process. Samsung is reportedly going to ramp up production of its new DRAM chips in the second half of this year, Apple is said to be one of the customers sourcing 18nm DRAM chips from Samsung.
