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Frequently Asked Questions
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Top 3 questions

01.Forget your Id or password?
02.Membership renewal
03.What is DXI?

General Information

How to renew my DRAMeXchange Market Intelligence membership?
I've forgotten my login ID or/and password!
How can I place an advertisement on the DRAMeXchange website?
When are the session hours in my local time?
Search tips within DRAMeXchange.com

Member Center

Forgot your Password?
Forgot your Login ID?
Activate your Account
Modify your Personal information
Register or unregister newsletter
Resend your Email Confirmation

Market Intelligence Service

What is DXI?
1.1 DXI Purpose
1.2 Understanding the stock price changes through the DXI index
1.3 Composition of the DXI
1.4 Calculation Base Period
How does DRAMeXchange collect the DRAM spot prices and contract prices?
How does DRAMeXchange update DRAM/NAND Flash spot and contract prices?
How often does DRAMeXchange update the DRAM / NAND Flash spot prices and contract prices?
How often does DRAMeXchange update DRAM contract prices?

NAND Flash

How often does DRAMeXchange update NAND Flash contract prices?
What is the definition of NAND Flash's current contract prices?
How are NAND Flash contract prices presented?
What is the Methodology of the NAND Flash contract pricing?
How do DRAMeXchange define the high, low, and average of NAND Flash contract prices?
How is the NAND Flash contract prices classified on DRAMeXchange website?
What are the differences between SLC NAND Flash and MLC NAND Flash?

Glossaries

DXI
NAND Flash TYPE
DRAM TYPE

 

General Information

Q : How to renew my DRAMeXchange Market Intelligence membership?

A : No matter you have already registered or are a new DRAMeXchange Market Intelligence member, you can renew your DRAMeXchange Market Intelligence membership anytime and may use your old or current ID/Password to reactivate your account instead of submitting the application again. Please go to HERE And click on "Purchase MI " on the upper side to begin your renewal process .

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Q : I've forgotten my login ID or/and password!

A :

a) If you are our member and have forgotten your password, please go to HERE
b) Or contact our customer service at

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Q : How can I place an advertisement on the DRAMeXchange website?

A : DRAMeXchange has attracted more than 50,000 members including top DRAM makers, PC peripheral producers and leading securities houses. Do you want to advertise a new product, promote your company or services to our worldwide members who are key players in the DRAM industry? Please go to HERE for more details.

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Q : When are the session hours in my local time?

Schedule for Spot Price Sessions in local time ( Weekdays )
Region
Cities
Open Session
Middle Session
Close Session
Asia Pacific
Bangkok, Jakarta
10:00 AM
1:30 PM
5:00 PM
Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei
11:00 AM
2:30 PM
6:00 PM
Seoul, Tokyo
12:00 Noon
3:30 PM
7:00 PM
Mumbai, New Delhi
8:30 AM
12:00 PM
3:30 PM
Melbourne, Sydney
2:00 PM
5:30 PM
9:00 PM
North America
Miami, Montreal New York,Toronto, Washington DC
(-Day) 10:00 PM
1:30 AM
5:00 AM
Los Angeles, San Francisco Seattle, Vancouver
(-Day) 7:00 PM
(-Day) 10:30 PM
2:00 AM
South America
Rio de Janeiro, Santiago *
Midnight
3:30 AM
7:00 AM
Europe
London, Dublin, Lisbon
3:00 AM
6:30 AM
10:00 AM

Amsterdam,Barcelona,Belgrade,Berlin,Brussels,Frankfurt,Geneva, Paris, Rome, Warsaw, Zürich

4:00 AM
7:30 AM
11:00 AM
Istanbul
5:00 AM
8:30 AM
12:00 Noon
Middle East
Dubai
7:00 AM
10:30 AM
2:00 PM

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Q : Search tips within DRAMeXchange.com

A : Doing a search within DRAMeXchange site is simple. Simply type one or more search terms into the search box and hit the' Go' key. You can search for pages that contain at least one of the words you type in. The scope of search results including the following sections within DRAMeXchange site: DXI, DPI, DRAM Spot/Contract Price, Flash Spot/Contract Price, News, Weekly Market Info., Special Report, Monthly DRAM Output, Forum, Monthly Datasheet, Research Report, and Pricing Information Center.

Many users prefer search results that do NOT contain a certain word. There is a Search in search results feature. You can focus your search by putting " not " in front of words you want to avoid, click " Search in search results " and then hit the " Go " Key again.

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Member Center

Q : Forgot your password?

A :
a) If you are our member and have forgotten your password, please go to HERE
b) Or contact our customer service at

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Q : Forgot your Login ID?

A : Members who have forgotten their login ID can retrieve login it by clicking HERE and follow the steps that follow.

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Q : Activate your Account

A : Members who have registered as our general member will receive an email from DRAMeXchange. This activation email will enclose an “activation link” which will activate your account. If the activation link in the email does not work, you may copy and paste the code HERE

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Q : Modify your Personal information

A : Members who would like to modify personal information may do that by:
a) login in HERE
b) to modify personal information, click HERE

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Q : Register or unregister newsletter

A : DRAMeXchange provides weekly newsletters to members. Members wishing to receive or unregister newsletters, may do that by clicking HERE

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Q : Resend your Email Confirmation

A : After registering as general member, DRAMeXchange will send an email confirmation and only through this email, will your registration be successful. If you have registered and have not received this email, please click HERE

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Market Intelligence Service

Q : What is DXI?

The DXI is an index showing the DRAM output value changes, which is comprised of the output and price variations.

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1.1 DXI Purpose

The main purpose of the DXI index is to provide users with an easy to understand graphical representation of the DRAM industrys market trend. The index is calculated by multiplying the mainstream DRAM chips with their respective street price. The calculation is performed under a logical framework, providing users with a powerful tool in gaining a detailed insight of the market performance.

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1.2 Understanding the stock price changes through the DXI index

The DXI index not only reflects the output value of the DRAM industry, it also depicts the stock price changes of DRAM makers. According to statistical data compiled by DRAMeXchange on the stock price of relevant DRAM makers, such as Qimonda, Nanya, ProMos and PSC, a strong correlation is seen with the spot price. Therefore, the index provides users with an accurate account of the highly volatile memory business.

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1.3 Composition of the DXI

The DXI is a DRAM output value index, used to assist relevant DRAM specialists, analysts and fund managers to track the DRAM price and output trend. DRAMeXchange makes use of two important criteria in selecting the chips. First, the spot price of related chips must always be able to be maintained by DRAMeXchange. Second, the selected chips must reach our benchmark, and contribute over 70% of the chosen DRAM makers output. Once the selected chips fail to meet the criteria, DRAMeXchange will renew its DXI calculation base.

Listed are the chips that comprise the DXI index for Dec 2007:

Type
Density
Organization
SDRAM
16Mb 1Mx16
64Mb 2Mx32
4Mx16
128Mb 16Mx8
8Mx16
4Mx32
256Mb 32Mx8
16Mx16
8Mx32
DDR
128Mb 16Mx8
8Mx16
4Mx32
256Mb 32Mx8
16Mx16
64Mx4
8Mx32
512Mb 32Mx16
64Mx8
128Mx4
1Gb 256Mx4
128Mx8
64Mx16
DDR2
256Mb 16Mx16
512Mb 32Mx16
64Mx8
128Mx4
1G 256Mx4
128Mx8
64Mx16
DDR3
512Mb 64Mx8
128Mx4
1Gb 256Mx4
128Mx8
64Mx16

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1.4 Calculation Base Period


DRAMeXchange collects the output data on a monthly basis. The September data is arbitrarily chosen to represent the output for Oct 1st. It is multiplied with the October chip price to serve as the calculation base period.

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Q : How does DRAMeXchange collect the DRAM spot prices and contract prices?

A : The DRAM spot prices on the DRAMeXchange website reflect the price performance of the global DRAM spot market. They contain three major market segments: Mainstream, Graphics, and Legacy items. All prices on the website are collected from worldwide spot markets, and they are struck prices rather than offer or inquiry prices.
The spot prices are collected by DRAMeXchange from five major players in the industry:

  • DRAM Vendors
  • OEMs and Systems
  • Channel distributors
  • Module Makers
  • Brokers

Each segment consists of representative companies and their price quotes are weighted by the volume. Before the close of trade, DRAMeXchange will liaise with the sales department to scrutinize the prices that the representative companies offer. After examination and calculation, the average spot prices will be updated at aforesaid times. For more information, please contact at

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Q : How does DRAMeXchange update DRAM/NAND Flash spot and contract prices?

A :

  • Major spot market buyers and sellers are DRAM vendors, OEMs and System integrators (SI), Channel distributors, Module Makers and Brokers.
    Module Makers’ monthly revenues are about $5 million to $100 million, and Brokers’ transactions vary from $1 million to $10 million.
    In order to protect the privacy of our clients, we cannot disclose detailed company information.


  • DRAMeXchange operates its own trading department, therefore spot price quotes for mainstream chips are based primarily on market transaction price; however, for spot price quotes for a small number of non-mainstream chips, due to their low trading volume, we may also use Bid/Ask prices as a reference in addition to market transaction price.


  • Currently, DRAM manufacturers’ monthly production volume is around 1000M (1Gb Equiv.), of which, about 25% (250M) are supplied to the spot market which are mainly module makers, such as Kingston, Transcend, A-DATA etc.; large-scale module makers deal with DRAM vendors directly in their price negotiations and product supplies. Due to necessary adjustments, a part of the process will be done through brokers, agents, distributors, forming a secondary market. Therefore, quotes from DRAMeXchange are mainly "secondary market" transaction prices, and not a direct price quote from DRAM vendors to module makers or brokers. Accordingly, "secondary market" transaction prices will either be higher or lower than the direct quotes from DRAM vendors to spot market customers, depending on market conditions at the time.
    As the spot market is a non-centralized trading market, trading volume cannot be accurately calculated the way it is in the stock market. Moreover, spot market transactions range from 1 million to 10 million dollars, and the complex transaction network and exchange volumes involved in several thousands of trading companies in the Americas, Europe, and Asia makes it even more difficult to make the estimates.


  • In the survey of contract prices, DRAMexchange mainly inquires about PC OEMs’ DRAM procurement and DRAM Makers’ sales figures. This is because contract prices between DRAM manufacturers and OEM customers differ according to customer relationships, demand volume, and market conditions that exist between the parties. DRAM vendors and OEM customers regard contract negotiation price as confidential information; therefore, DRAMeXchange only provides session high, session low, and session average in the market as reference, without disclosing relevant company information.

Note: DRAMeXchange is a neutral industry research institute; the price quotes provided should be used for reference purposes only. Due to the diversity of market players, the actual transaction of each company varies according to the market status and business relationships that exist between the parties. Data from DRAMeXchange does not represent the volume and price of all market transactions, therefore, the market prices provided are based on market transactions through our marketplace as well as information survey by our analysts. DRAMeXchange is not liable for warranty of prices listed on our website, terms of exchange depends on the companies involved.

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Q : How often does DRAMeXchange update the DRAM / NAND Flash spot prices and contract prices?

A : DRAM/NAND Flash spot prices:

DRAMeXchange updates the spot prices 3 times a day at

  • 11:00am (GMT+ 8:00), including prices from morning Asia trade and a recap of the market close in Europe and United States.
  • 14:30pm (GMT+ 8:00)
  • 18:00pm (GMT+ 8:00), including the closing prices of the Asia Pacific markets and opening trade in Europe

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Q : How often does DRAMeXchange update DRAM contract prices?

A : DRAMeXchange updates the contract prices twice a month after DRAM makers and PC OEMs reach an agreement on contract deals. Negotiations on contract prices begin on the 1st and 16th day of every month and they usually take 3 business day or sometimes longer to finalize the deal. DRAMeXchange will post the final contract prices right after they are set by both parties, usually on the 6th and 20th of every month.

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NAND Flash

Q : How often does DRAMeXchange update NAND Flash contract prices?

A : The negotiated deals and quote announcement of each major NAND Flash vendor differs slightly. Thus, DRAMeXchange timely announces the current NAND Flash's contract prices twice a month. The NAND Flash contract price is updated twice a month. (Announced between the 5th ~10th and the 20th -25th)

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Q : What is the definition of NAND Flash's current contract prices

A : The current contract prices of NAND FLASH are the settled prices agreed between the buyers and sellers for a specific amount of shipment over a specific future timeframe. Most industry players usually set their contract price within an effective timeframe, ranging from one week to a month. The contract prices we gathered exclude those special deals that sellers negotiated with a limited group of strategic customers, when large purchases are made.

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Q : How are NAND Flash contract prices presented?

A : As the negotiation period and quote announcement is slightly different between each major NAND Flash vendors, DRAMeXchange in principle announces the current contract prices twice a month. In light of the ever-changing emerging memory market, the method of the price release is always aptly adjusted.

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Q : What is the Methodology of the NAND Flash contract pricing

A : DRAMeXchange conducts our estimate and assessment of current contract price interval via direct or indirect survey with NAND Flash associated companies (including vendors, distributors, agencies, system makers, OEMs, memory card makers, etc.) regarding their outlook over the price trend. We also take the spot prices trend for side reference.Moreover, the methodology of NAND Flash spot price collection is similar to DRAM spot price.

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Q : How do DRAMeXchange define the high, low, and average of NAND Flash contract prices?

A : The high and low points of NAND Flash contract prices on DRAMeXchange's website represent the highest and lowest settled prices within the current period.

The average NAND Flash contract price is the average collected weight of the settled price by volume trading.

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Q : How is the NAND Flash contract prices classified on DRAMeXchange website?

A : The types of NAND Flash contract prices on DRAMeXchange website is based on the following criteria:

  • Product type (MLC & SLC)
  • Density type (2Gb, 4Gb, 8Gb…etc.)

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Q : What are the differences between SLC NAND Flash and MLC NAND Flash?

A : There are two major types of NAND Flash memory in the market: SLC (Single-Level-Cell) chips and MLC (Multi-Level-Cell) chips. MLC architecture allows 2 bits of data to be stored in one memory cell, while SLC architecture allows just one. Therefore, the density per chip cost for MLC chips will be lower than SLC chips. However, as the architecture of MLC chips is more complicated than SLC chips, the product life cycle, security and speed of data transfer for SLC chips is better than the other.

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Glossaries

DXI : DRAMeXchange Index

NAND Flash TYPE :

  • MLC : Multi-level cell
  • SLC : Single-level cell

DRAM TYPE :

  • FPM : Fast page mode
  • EDO : Extended data output
  • SDRAM : Synchronous dynamic random access memory)
  • DDR SDRAM : Double-data-rate synchronous DRAM
  • DDR2 SDRAM : Double-data-rate 2 synchronous DRAM
  • DDR3 SDRAM : Double-data-rate 3 synchronous DRAM
  • RDRAM : Rambus dynamic random access memory

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