According to a Tom's Hardware report, DRAM has become more expensive to produce on a per-area basis than compute chips. The value of a DRAM die now surpasses that of leading-edge logic silicon, flipping the traditional cost hierarchy in semiconductor manufacturing.
The shift is attributed to surging AI demand, which has intensified competition for memory capacity. As a result, DRAM makers may now earn more per wafer than TSMC gets for its N3 wafers, a comparison that highlights how AI is reshaping the economics of chip production.
This development marks a notable reversal, as advanced logic wafers have historically commanded the highest prices in the industry. The new dynamic suggests memory chips are no longer the low-cost commodity they once were, at least while AI-driven demand remains elevated.