China's Biggest Memory Maker Claims Parity with Samsung (read this guide) and Micron
China's biggest memory maker, CXMT, announced that its fifth-generation DRAM platform has entered mass production, boasting an 11.95nm half-pitch and at least 50% more dies per wafer—claiming parity with the industry's top nodes.
Luo Xiaodong, vice president of ChangXin Memory Technologies and head of its marketing center, made the remarks at the World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, as reported by Reuters.
The CXMT DRAM Platform
The company detailed these specifications on its website:
- Active area half-pitch: 11.95nm
- Storage capacitor aspect ratio: 45 to 1
- Achieved using four-exposure patterning
- Yields at least 50% more dies per wafer than its fourth generation, measured on an eight-gigabit baseline.
Two products are already running on this platform: 24-gigabit LPDDR5X chips for smartphones and portable electronics, offering 50% more data capacity than previous CXMT chips. They come in 496-ball and 245-ball packages.
Commercial Implications
CXMT positions its new platform as a solution to the global memory shortage, offering powerful chips at lower cost and with less power draw. It directly challenges current suppliers—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—and aims to diversify supply chains, addressing concerns raised by US export controls restricting China's access to advanced chipmaking equipment since 2022.
Unanswered Questions
While CXMT celebrates its breakthrough, key details remain undisclosed:
- Yield Rates: The announcement does not provide information on production yields, which are critical for profitability.
- Comparison with Competitors: Claims of parity have not been independently verified against Samsung, SK Hynix, or Micron.
- Equipment Reliance: CXMT's success hinges on its ability to work around US export restrictions without access to cutting-edge equipment.
The announcement arrives amidst a global memory crunch that has been impacting hardware prices throughout the year, as TNW has previously reported.