Industry insiders from South Korea have recently revealed that Samsung Electronics is planning to reconfigure its Pyeongtaek P2 factory's DRAM production line before the end of this year. The factory, which began operations in the second half of 2020, has seen a significant reduction in its 1z DRAM output, prompting Samsung to consider a transition to more cutting-edge technologies.

The 1b DRAM, the latest generation of commercial DRAM, has already completed internal quality testing at Samsung Electronics and the company has commenced the construction of facilities for its mass production. With additional investments in 1b DRAM production beyond the P2, P3, and Hwaseong lines 15 and 16, Samsung is expected to reach a monthly production capacity of 100,000 wafers by early next year.

Furthermore, Samsung is also looking to invest in "next-generation DRAM." It is anticipated that a portion of the P2 factory's 1z DRAM production will be converted to the 1b DRAM process, with the remainder potentially being shifted to 1c (6th generation) or 1d (7th generation) DRAM technologies. The configuration design for the P2 conversion investment is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, with facility orders to be placed in the following year.

Samsung's plans for the P2 factory equipment investment conversion may be subject to change depending on the development progress of the most advanced DRAM technologies. The company has already set a goal to mass-produce 1c DRAM within this year and is preparing to build its first production line in the second half of the year.

While Samsung's development timeline for 1c DRAM remains uncertain, SK Hynix has announced in late August that it has successfully developed a 16Gb DDR5 DRAM using the 1c process and is preparing for mass production of 1c DDR5 DRAM by the end of this year, with plans to supply products starting next year.

SK Hynix has also made advancements by developing and applying new materials in some EUV processes and optimizing its entire process for EUV compatibility, ensuring cost competitiveness. The company has also innovated in design technology for the 1c process, achieving a production yield increase of over 30% compared to the previous 1b process.