Memory makers still not bullish on DDR2

Despite the penetration rate of DDR2 growing 11 percentage points through the first half of 2005, a conservative outlook for further growth had pushed memory makers into delaying their DDR2 volume production schedules.

Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) only expects to start volume production of DDR2 at the end of the third quarter, a delay of two months from its original schedule, according to company president Brain Shieh.

PSC estimates its allocated capacity ratio of DDR2 to DDR will be split evenly in the fourth quarter of this year, but the company still regards DDR as its production focus, Shieh added. The company will continue to follow this roadmap in order to fulfill strong demand from the spot market.

ProMOS Technologies forecasts that DDR2 will only rise to the mainstream in the first quarter of 2006. The company will start its first pilot run in July and start volume producing DDR2 memory in the fourth quarter, according to company R&D unit vice president Rebecca Tang.

Nanya Technology has a more optimistic outlook for DDR2 production. The company expects the capacity allocation ratio of DDR2 to DDR to go from 45:55 this quarter to 65:35 in the fourth quarter, according to company public relations spokesperson Amelia Chu.