RAM Crafted in a Backyard Shed: A Home-Chip Breakthrough
"This is the first time RAM has been made in a home environment," the creator claims, though the statement cannot be independently verified.
A YouTuber known as Dr. Semiconductor has documented the successful creation of working DRAM memory cells inside a small, custom-built cleanroom located in a backyard shed. The project was directly motivated by rising RAM prices, which the creator attributes to surging demand from the AI sector.
Inside the Fab Process
The second video in the series details the complete fabrication process:
- Designing a 5x4 array of capacitors and transistors
- Transferring the design onto a silicon wafer
- Applying photoresist, etching, and doping with phosphorus
Following fabrication, the chips were tested using micromanipulators and probe tips.
Performance and Limitations
The tests confirmed that the RAM cells function, though not without compromises. The capacitors held 12.3 picofarads, close to the original design target of 15 pF. However, a significant shortcoming emerged in retention time.
The cells could only retain a charge for about 4 milliseconds—far less than the 64 milliseconds typical of commercial DRAM.
The cells also required higher-than-ideal voltage to operate.
Future Plans
Despite the limitations, the creator considers the project a proof of concept and plans to chain multiple cells together in the future in an attempt to create practical memory applications.