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Recently, that Show China-based memory manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has begun shipping DDR5 memory chips. However, according to the findings of A Chinese researcher in semiconductorsthe die size of CXMT’s 16GB DDR5 IC is 40% larger than that of a competing Samsung chip, which means it is much more expensive to build due to the use of less advanced chip manufacturing technology. Of course, since the information comes from an unofficial source, take it with a grain of salt, but the technician disassembles the DRAM module on the video, which lends credibility to the results.
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| Tom’s devices | CXMT 16GB DDR5 memory | Samsung 16GB DDR5 |
| mm square | 68.06 mm^2 | 48.90 mm^2 |
| Mold dimensions | 8.25 x 8.25 mm | 6.46 x 7.57 mm |
CXMT’s 16GB DDR5 die dimensions are 8.25 x 8.25mm; Therefore its die size is 68.06 mm^2. By contrast, Samsung’s modern 16GB DDR5 die is 6.46 x 7.57mm and has a die size of 48.90mm^2.
When Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix began mass producing 16GB DDR5 memory chips in 2021, the die size ranged from 66.26mm^2 to 72.21mm^2 (according to Technical insights), but all DRAM makers have reduced their DDR5 die sizes over time.
CXMT’s 16GB DDR5 die size is comparable to first-generation DDR5 chips from leading memory manufacturers. Assuming that CXMT’s revenues are also comparable to those of Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix in 2021, CXMT’s costs are also comparable to those companies’ costs about four or five years ago.
However, CXMT’s DDR5 costs are likely much higher than those of Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix today, so it remains to be seen whether the company will be able to compete against its competitors in terms of pricing. We can’t help but wonder if CXMT will be able to sell DDR5 at deep discounts to grab market share from its competitors.
The relatively large size of CXMT’s DDR5 memory chips also indicates that the company is using processing technology that is years behind that used by its competitors, which is not particularly surprising. Despite this, CXMT partners produce DDR5-6000 memory chips, which indicates the fairly high performance potential of the company’s DDR5 ICs. However, currently, leading DRAM makers outperform CXMT in terms of performance, power efficiency, and cost efficiency.
