Samsung increases DRAM production, cheaper prices in 2H 2018

Samsung is ramping up its DRAM production, with the company setting itself up to expand two of its DRAM manufacturing plants in Hwasung and Pyeongtaek, both in South Korea.

Samsung will be re-purposing some of its 2D NAND flash at its Hwasung plant, which will then be used to boost DRAM production, which should start in Q1 2018. The Pyeongtaek-based plant is also being refitted, with DRAM manufacturing clean rooms that will be built on the plant's second floor.

But we all want to know when cheaper DDR4 will be here, which is what Samsung is going to be able to offer once DRAM production is up, but don't expect anything until the second half of 2018. The PC industry isn't the only place where increased DRAM production will alleviate shortages, as smartphones and tablets also use lots of DRAM these days. DRAM stock has been depleted over the last 9 months or so, with RAM prices skyrocketing up by to 100%.

• Read more: RAM shortages are here until 2028: 64GB DDR5 is now $500, 256GB DDR4 costs over $3000
• Read more: Samsung finishes development on next-gen 400-layer NAND, 1Tb 400-layer TLC NAND in early 2025
• Read more: SK hynix to boost DRAM production by a huge 8x in 2026, still won't be enough for RAM shortages