DRAM makers Nanya Technology and Inotera Memories are planning to raise their capex again this year to come close to a combined total of NT$100 billion (US$3.1 billion), according to industry sources. The sources did not specify each capex revision.
The sources claimed Nanya and Inotera will soon announce their new capex goals for 2010, as both DRAM makers look to move Micron Technology's 42nm stack process to mass production two months ahead of schedule.
Nanya has responded saying the company is considering moving up the schedule to deploy 42nm stack technology, but has yet to finalize any decision to increase capex.
Nanya has upwardly adjusted its capex to NT$22 billion for 2010 from an original estimate of NT$19 billion. The company recently revealed it would start sampling 2Gb DDR3 chips using 42nm in the third quarter, with volume production slated for the fourth quarter.
Inotera said a revision to its capex budget may be unveiled in July. It plans to implement part of its spending for 2011 in 2010, the company added.
Inotera's 2010 capex, initially set at NT$45 billion, has been revised to NT$52 billion. The company was quoted in previous reports saying trial runs on Micron's 42nm design would kick off during the second half.
Both Nanya and Inotera have been aggressively migrating to a 50nm stack process. Nanya estimated the node would account for 50% of its total 12-inch capacity in the second quarter, whereas Inotera aims to shift all its production lines to the node by the end of 2010.
Rivals Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) and Rexchip Electronics are ramping up production using Elpida Memory's 63nm process, and plan to directly shift to a 45nm node, the companies were quoted in previous reports. Rexchip now expects to covert all of its 12-inch chip production to 45nm in the first quarter of 2011, whereas PSC said its technology transition to the node would depend on when it starts taking delivery of immersion scanner equipment.