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DRAM value per mm² surpasses TSMC 2nm wafer prices
Driven by surging artificial intelligence demand, the market value of advanced DRAM per square millimeter has surpassed the nominal wafer prices of TSMC’s most cutting-edge logic nodes. An analysis by Kernel Insight indicates that 1b DRAM, with a calculated value of $0.654 per mm², is approximately 54% higher than the estimated $0.424 per mm² for TSMC’s 2nm (N2) wafers.
As memory density increases through successive generations—from 1y and 1z to 1a and 1b—the value gap between DRAM and TSMC’s N3 and N2 nodes widens. For instance, 1y DRAM is valued at $0.329 per mm², while 1z DRAM reaches $0.410 per mm².
However, experts note that this comparison has structural limitations. TSMC’s figures represent the processing fees paid by customers, whereas DRAM figures represent the potential sales value of the finished memory product. Furthermore, these calculations do not account for manufacturing variables such as wafer edge loss, dicing loss, yield rates, or the significant costs associated with advanced packaging like High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).
Entities
DRAMeXchange · Kernel Insight · Kurnal Insights · Nvidia · SK Hynix · Samsung Electronics · TSMC
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The estimated nominal price for a TSMC 300mm N2 wafer is $30,000, resulting in a price of $0.424 per mm². www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] 1y DRAM has a value of $0.329 per mm². www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The estimated nominal price for a TSMC 300mm N3 wafer is $20,000, resulting in a price of $0.283 per mm². www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The value per square millimeter of 1b DRAM is calculated at $0.654. www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The value per square millimeter of 1b DRAM is approximately 54% higher than the nominal price of TSMC's 2nm (N2) wafers. www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] 1z DRAM has a value of $0.410 per mm². www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 2 SOURCES] The comparison between DRAM and TSMC wafers does not account for yield, edge loss, or advanced packaging costs. www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 2 SOURCES] The average transaction price for 16Gb DDR5 eTT chips was $24.80 as of September 21. www.tokenpost.kr · zdnet.co.kr