Elpida Develops 65nm-process 1Gb DDR2 SDRAM

Tokyo-based Elpida Memory Inc. has completed development of a 1-Gbit DDR2 SDRAM based on 65nm process technology. Elpida claimed that, based on the 65nm process, the company can create the world's smallest chip products.

“The new 65nm process and our own storehouse of design technology have made it possible for the 1-Gbit DDR2 SDRAM to become the world's smallest chip,” said Hideki Gomi, Elpida’s officer of process technology, in a statement. “Given the imminent transition from 512Mb to 1Gb products, Elpida is now geared up to produce high-performance 1Gb DRAMs at lower cost.”

In December 2006, Elpida started mass production of DRAMs using 70nm process technology and now applies that process to mass production at the Hiroshima Elpida E300 Fab and the Taiwan-based Rexchip Electronics Corp. joint venture between Elpida and PowerChip.

Elpida expects a smooth migration to the new 65-nm process, as most of the manufacturing equipment now used in the 70nm process will also be used in 65nm production. In addition, the company said the manufacturing transition will be made easier by the process development undertaken on the mass production line at Hiroshima Elpida.

Sampling of 65nm products will begin in December with mass production scheduled to start in Q1 2008, Elpida said, not releasing capacity estimates or pricing information. However, the company added that the planned Q2 introduction of 65nm technology at Taiwan-based Rexchip should boost production to even higher levels.