1b DRAM Costs 54% More Per Square Millimeter Than TSMC's N2 Wafer

According to Kernel Insight, a square millimeter of 1b DRAM wafer costs $0.654 versus $0.42 for TSMC's N2, despite DRAM being far easier to fabricate. A 300mm N3 wafer runs about $20,000 and N2 about $30,000. The DRAM shortage is expected to persist, and Samsung's B1b process with wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding could push prices even higher.

• 1b DRAM costs $0.654 per mm², TSMC N2 costs $0.42
• TSMC N3 wafer costs about $20,000, N2 about $30,000
• 1b DRAM density is 0.436 Gb/mm² at $1.50 per Gb
• Samsung B1b will bond cells and periphery via hybrid bonding