Elpida to more than double DDR3 output, shares up

TOKYO Aug 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Elpida Memory Inc 6665.T said that it plans to more than double its output of advanced DRAM chips for high-speed computers and servers next month, pushing its shares higher on Monday.

Elpida, which is vying with U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology Inc MU.N to be the world's No.3 maker of dynamic random access memory, said that it would boost output of its DDR3 chips to about 75,000 wafers per month starting in September, up from its current output of 20,000 to 30,000 wafers per month.

Spot prices of DDR3 chips are at about $2.10, up around 30 percent from May, prompting Elpida and rivals Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and Hynix Semiconductor Inc (000660.KS) to shift more weight to the new chips.

DDR3 chips, used in high-end PCs and servers, can handle more data quickly than mainstream DDR2 chips, while they use less power.

Shares of Elpida were up 9.4 percent to 1,181 yen, outperforming a 0.6 percent rise in Tokyo's electrical machinery index .IELEC.T. (Reporting by Mayumi Negishi)