CXMT 4F² Chip Hype Seen As Overblown
Although concerns are growing that China’s CXMT will threaten the technological competitiveness of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix with its new technology, analyses are pouring in from the semiconductor industry and the stock market that it is premature to judge it as a substantial threat.Opinions
Concerns are rising that China's CXMT may challenge Samsung Electronics and SK hynix's technological edge with its innovative 'Four F Square (4F²)' chip technology. However, professionals in the semiconductor industry and the stock market argue it's too soon to deem this a major threat. Even if CXMT applies the tech first, they point out it will be difficult to overcome domestic companies' lead due to issues securing a stable yield and cost competitiveness necessary for mass production.
CXMT announced plans to use 4F² in server DDR5 DRAMs within the year, igniting worries of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix's memory technology being shaken. 4F² reduces DRAM cell area by 33% compared to the 6F² structure, leading to more data storage per product. Yet, some analysts contend that judging CXMT's new tech as a practical threat is premature.
U.S. investment bank Rosenblatt described the threat as a 'paper tiger'. Additionally, the market is wary that 'technology application' and 'economically viable mass production' are distinct, making it unreasonable to assume CXMT has gained actual competitiveness. Industry experts note that DRAM competitiveness isn't just about new process development but also stable mass production, yield securement, and customer certification.
CXMT's progress in mass production and sample creation remains unclear, as their recent announcement lacked specifics on these aspects. The company's pursuit of EUV lithography equipment, crucial for advanced circuits, is also a hindrance due to U.S. export regulations. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have been researching 4F² technology, but they haven't disclosed a specific roadmap.
An industry official warned that CXMT's massive investment in production capacity and R&D means domestic companies must remain vigilant and accelerate their development of advanced technologies.
Written by urgent.news from BusinessKorea's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
