Core Viewpoint - Samsung Electronics is struggling with the mass production strategy for the next-generation NAND V10, facing delays and uncertainties in demand and technology introduction [2][5]. Group 1: NAND V10 Production Challenges - Samsung's V10 NAND features a stacking layer count of 430, surpassing the current V9's 290 layers by 100 layers [2]. - The company initially planned to start mass production investment in the second half of this year, but this has been postponed to the first half of next year due to supply chain finalization delays [2][5]. - The introduction of new low-temperature etching processes has proven difficult, with evaluations indicating that immediate application for mass production is unlikely [3][4]. Group 2: Equipment and Cost Factors - Samsung is collaborating with major equipment manufacturers like Lam Research and TEL to assess low-temperature etching equipment, but the results have led to a reevaluation of the approach [3][4]. - The investment cost for new equipment is a significant factor in delaying the V10 NAND mass production, as diversifying suppliers may reduce the utilization rate of existing equipment [4]. Group 3: HBM3E Supply Agreement with AMD - Samsung has secured a supply agreement with AMD for the fifth-generation 12-layer HBM3E memory, which will be used in the upcoming MI350 AI accelerator [6]. - This agreement marks a breakthrough for Samsung, especially after previous setbacks against competitors like NVIDIA [6]. - The new HBM3E chip offers over 50% improvements in performance and capacity compared to the previous eight-layer version, supporting a bandwidth of up to 1,280GB/s [7]. Group 4: Future HBM4 Developments - HBM4 is seen as a critical battleground for market dominance among Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, with plans for mass production by the end of this year [8]. - Samsung aims to regain its competitive edge in the HBM market by adopting advanced sixth-generation process technology, which could provide significant advantages over competitors using fifth-generation technology [8].
三星存储:一个坏消息,一个好消息
半导体芯闻·2025-06-13 09:39