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SK hynix utilizes six EUV layers for 1c DRAM process as EUV investment ramps up
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 02:32 AM
Estimates regarding SK hynix's EUV investment suggest that the current 1c DRAM process utilizes six EUV layers. Based on ASML equipment specifications and reported capital expenditure news, analysis is being conducted on the relationship between the number of EUV lithography systems and overall production capacity for next-generation memory nodes.
Context
As of March 2026, SK hynix is aggressively scaling its 1c (6th-generation 10nm-class) DRAM production, a critical node for the next generation of AI-optimized memory. In a strategic push to maintain its lead in the HBM and mobile markets, the company is utilizing six EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) layers for the 1c process. This high EUV intensity, backed by a recent $8 billion (12 trillion won) investment in ASML equipment, allows for finer circuit patterns and improved power efficiency compared to competitors who may be reducing layer counts to manage yield stability. This investment is timely as the industry pivots toward large-scale AI inferencing.
The scale-up is substantial, with SK hynix aiming to increase 1c DRAM output eightfold through 2026. The company recently validated the world’s first 1c LPDDR6 for on-device AI and is preparing for mass production in the second half of this year. By accelerating node conversions at its M14 and M16 fabs and integrating advanced tools like ASML’s High-NA EUV scanners, the company is positioning itself to meet a projected memory shortage that leadership warns could persist through 2030 due to the sheer wafer intensity of AI-driven demand.
Sources (8)
SK hynix Presents Roadmap for Future DRAM at IEEE VLSI 2025SK Hynix reportedly to begin 1c GDDR7 production in 2025, eyeing Tesla and Nvidia orders
SK Hynix to ramp up 1c DRAM production 8-fold in 2026 - KED GlobalSamsung and SK are expanding fast, but why is memory still in short supply?Samsung Electronics reduces the number of EUV layers in 1c DRAM... Yield 'Focus' | SemiWikiMemory shortage could last to 2030, says SK hynix ...SK Hynix Installs ASML's High-NA EUV Scanner As the First Memory ManufacturerSK Hynix to Invest ~$8 Billion in ASML EUV Equipment to ...
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