Digitimes is reporting that memory IC manufacturer Elpida has green-lighted production of 40nm 2Gb DDR3 SDRAM.

The new Elpida 2Gb DDR3 SDRAM uses a smaller chip size to achieve a 44% higher chip yield per wafer compared with the chipmaker’s 50nm DDR3 SDRAM and a 100% yield for DDR3 products that operate at 1.6Gbps, according to the company.

Compared with 50nm products, Elpida said its 40nm 2Gb DDR3 SDRAM uses about two-thirds less current and supports 1.2V/1.35V operation as well as DDR3 standard 1.5V, thus reducing power consumption by as much as 45%.

Despite a small hiccup in July, Elpida has been a consistent provider of some of the world’s fastest DDR3 ICs, such as those found in the ever-growing glut of DDR3-2000 modules. The promise of colder, faster, smaller, lower-voltage DDR3 ICs means 2010 should be a wonderland of cheaper, faster overclocker modules.