[News] Samsung Reportedly Plans 1c DRAM Expansion for HBM4 in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek by Year-end

As HBM4 has become the next battle ground for memory giants, Samsung seems to be aiming to close its gap with SK hynix through aggressive investment. According to ZDNet, Samsung plans to expand 1c DRAM (6th-gen 10nm-class) production in both Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek, with investments starting by year-end.

The report points out that while SK hynix and Micron will use 1b DRAM for HBM4, Samsung is betting on 1c DRAM instead. Therefore, its latest investment plan reportedly implies Samsung’s confidence in steadily boosting 1c DRAM yields.

According to a Chosun Biz report in April, Samsung’s 4nm logic dies, which are key component of Samsung’s 12-layer HBM4, have already achieved a test production yield exceeding 40%.

As explained by ZDNet, Samsung started building its first 1c DRAM line at Pyeongtaek’s 4th Campus (P4) earlier this year, targeting 30K wafers monthly. Additional investments could raise its monthly capacity to 40K wafers if expansion proceeds smoothly, the report adds.

Furthermore, the report indicates that Samsung is considering converting its legacy Hwaseong 17 production line, which currently manufactures 1z DRAM, to 1c DRAM as early as the end of this year.

HBM4 Could Become Mainstream in 2H26

According to TrendForce, amid robust demand, total HBM shipments are expected to surpass 30 billion gigabits in 2026. HBM4’s market share is expected to grow steadily as suppliers ramp up production, ultimately overtaking HBM3e as the mainstream solution by the second half of 2026.

Notably, TrendForce highlights that leading AI chipmaker NVIDIA unveiled its next-generation Rubin GPU at this year’s GTC, while AMD is preparing its MI400 series as a direct competitor. Both are expected to feature HBM4.

SK hynix is projected to retain its leadership with over 50% market share, while Samsung and Micron will need to further improve yields and capacity to narrow the gap in the HBM4 race, as per TrendForce.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Reportedly Targets 1c DRAM Yield Improvement by Mid-2025 with Redesign Plans
• [News] SK hynix Reportedly Set 1c DRAM Mass Production in Feb, While Samsung Delays by Six Months

(Photo credit: Samsung)