Developing smaller chip manufacturing technology is crucial to meeting user demand for small devices that can perform many functions, such as smartphones that act as a computer, camera, music player and phone. Smaller etching technologies also enable companies to increase chip speed and reduce power consumption.

Advances in chip manufacturing technology also lower costs over time, a major benefit to consumers.

The 30nm technology raises productivity by 60 percent over older 40nm technology in DDR3 chips, Samsung said. Chip makers usually do not pass this cost savings on to consumers immediately because they first need to recoup the massive investment needed to roll out the technology.

There are more DRAM chips made every year than any other kind of computer chip. They are vital to overall computing speed because they store work as it's being done on-screen, from writing a note to editing a video. More DRAM is needed for multitasking and for large applications such as gaming or multimedia.