Micron Unveils First 1γ DDR5 DRAM Chip with EUV Technology

Micron Technology has officially begun shipping its 16Gb DDR5 DRAM chips utilizing the cutting-edge 1γ (1-gamma) node to select ecosystem partners and clients. The company claims to be the first in the industry to adopt the 1γ node, which represents the sixth generation of DRAM process technology with minimum geometries ranging between 19nm and 10nm. As DRAM manufacturers shift to producing 10nm-class DRAM, the industry has moved away from traditional nanometer measurements, now using designations like 1x, 1y, 1z, and more recently, 1α, 1β, and 1γ.

Building on its leadership in the 1α and 1β DRAM nodes, Micron's milestone with the 1γ node promises to drive innovation across future computing platforms, from cloud, industrial, and consumer applications to edge AI devices such as AI PCs, smartphones, and automotive technologies. By developing the 1γ node across its global manufacturing facilities, Micron aims to offer the industry advanced technology and enhanced supply resilience.

The Micron 1γ 16Gb DDR5 DRAM is designed to deliver speeds up to 9200MT/s, marking a 15% speed improvement over the previous generation 16Gb DDR5 (produced using the 1β technology), while reducing power consumption by more than 20%. The 1γ node also incorporates EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) technology, which enhances wafer capacity output by 30% compared to the prior generation. This improvement not only boosts Micron's economic performance but also leverages EUV lithography to create finer features on silicon wafers using shorter wavelengths of light. The memory also features next-generation high-K metal gate CMOS technology, enhancing transistor performance, achieving higher speeds, optimizing designs, and shrinking feature sizes to deliver a dual benefit of lower power consumption and expanded performance.

Scott DeBoer, Micron's Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Product Officer, stated, “Micron's expertise in developing proprietary DRAM technologies, combined with our strategic use of EUV lithography, has enabled us to create an advanced memory product lineup based on the 1γ node, driving AI ecosystem development. The 1γ DRAM node achieves higher capacity density output, demonstrating our exceptional manufacturing strength and efficiency, and allowing us to scale memory supply to meet the growing industry demand.”

Micron plans to incorporate the 1γ node across its entire DRAM portfolio, including DDR5 for data centers, low-power DRAM for edge AI, DDR5 SODIMM for AI PCs, and LPDDR5X for mobile products and automotive applications. The company also confirmed that customers such as AMD and Intel have already begun validating the use of 1γ DRAM in their server and consumer processors.