GoKawiilAI-driven DRAM prices now exceed TSMC's N2/N3 wafer processing costs per mm²
Analyst Kurnal Insights calculated that at current AI-driven memory prices, the revenue value of DRAM per square millimeter of silicon now surpasses the nominal wafer processing cost of TSMC's advanced N2 and N3 logic nodes. Using an assumed DRAM price of $1.50 per gigabit, the newest 1b DRAM generation works out to about $0.654 per mm², compared to roughly $0.424 per mm² for an N3 wafer.
This comparison highlights how surging AI memory demand has pushed DRAM economics past even the most advanced and expensive logic manufacturing processes, a reversal from historical norms where memory was cheaper per area than leading-edge compute silicon. It underscores why memory shortages and price hikes are expected to persist as AI infrastructure buildouts continue, potentially squeezing supply for other electronics makers.
- DRAM revenue per mm² now exceeds TSMC N2/N3 wafer processing cost estimates
- AI demand is driving unprecedented memory pricing, especially for newer 1b DRAM
- The figures compare wafer cost (logic) to potential revenue (memory), not identical metrics
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See Crucial DDR5 32GB Desktop RAM Kit on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Anton Shilov, 2026-09-22
Published there as: “Memory chips are now more expensive to make than compute chips on a per-area basis — AI demand drives DRAM die value past leading-edge silicon”
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