Elpida has announced that it was able to manufacture a new version of its 1 Gbit DDR2 SDRAM chip using 65-nm process. By doing so, it will be possible to get 20% more chips from a single 300 mm wafer (i.e. more chip will be produced in the same “oven”; a 60% increase in chips compared with wafers for 70-nm process products). Volume production of the new 65-nm chips is expected to begin before the end of 2008. Elpida also announced that it is developing a 50-nm process and plans to complete work in November. The company intends to begin volume production as early as late December this year. According to Elpida, the 50-nm process will improve productivity by up to 50% compared to its 65-nm process.
