Tech Shout!

Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the second largest computer memory chipmaker in the world announced today that it has developed the fastest and smallest chip in the world. This chip, which meets the JDEC standards, has a memory capacity of 512 megabytes and a processing speed of 200 megahertz.

The processing speed of Hynix Semiconductor’s new 512-megabyte DRAM is 1.5 times faster than the speed of its existing mobile DRAM products. The mobile dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which is the main memory used for mobile phones, has been designed to be operated at only 1 per cent of the power used by the main memory in personal computers.

All this is possible by using 32 I/Os, and thus Hynix’s 512 MB DDR SDRAM processes 1.6Gigabytes (400Mbps x 32) of data in 1 second.

“As the third generation of mobile phones has emerged, our 512 Mb mobile DRAM is expected to offer higher capacity and faster speed solutions, which are required for advanced handsets such as DMB players and display phones,” said Hynix.

Besides the improved speed that Hynix’s 512 MB DDR SDRAM boasts of, this chip is also the industry’s smallest chip ever. Measuring just 8mm x 10mm, the memory is projected to enhance Hynix’s competitiveness in the mobile sector, which has in recent times showed a trend of miniaturization.

Additionally, Hynix is expected to combine 512MB mobile DRAM and NAND Flash in a multi-chip package (MCP).

Hynix also has plans to apply the new chip to the multi-chip package which combines NAND flash memory and mobile DRAM. The newest chip will help further reduce the size of mobile phones, the company official added.