Samsung Electronics has introduced a sample version of its next-generation graphics DRAM, GDDR7. Graphics DRAM, along with High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), is considered a profitable product in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) memory lineup.
According to industry sources on March 28, Samsung Electronics recently unveiled the specifications of two GDDR7 DRAM products via its official semiconductor website. GDDR DRAM is a product line specialized in processing high-resolution graphic data, essential for Nvidia and AMD’s graphics processing units (GPUs), which are crucial for AI.
The products revealed are 16 GB GDDR7 DRAM with speeds of 32 Gbps and 28 Gbps, respectively. Gbps denotes gigabits of data transmitted per second. Earlier this year, Samsung demonstrated a 37 Gbps product at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) session. However, it has decided to start mass production with products of lower specifications.
Both products have also adopted 266 Fine Pitch Ball Grid Array (FBGA) packaging. FBGA is a method of arranging round balls on the bottom surface of the package. Their refresh rates are similarly set at 16 K and 32 ms.
Additionally, they have implemented the Pulse-Amplitude Modulation 3 (PAM3) signaling method. This method distinguishes the signal system into -1, 0, and 1, transmitting 1.5 bits of data per cycle. This allows for the transmission of 1.5 times more data than the conventional Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ), which differentiates between 0 and 1.
It is notable that the status of both is listed as “Sample.” This means that they have not yet entered mass production. Adding sample status products to the official website lineup is considered somewhat unusual. This concurrently suggests that mass production for supply, especially to companies like NVIDIA, is imminent.
Competitor SK hynix has not yet disclosed detailed specifications. However, it caught the industry’s attention by unveiling 40 Gbps GDDR7 DRAM at Nvidia’s GTC 2024 AI developer conference recently. The fastest speed previously showcased by SK hynix was 35.4 Gbps, which means it has surpassed Samsung Electronics’ highest speed (37 Gbps).
Currently, Micron is the main supplier of GDDR6X, with speeds of 19-24Gbps, to Nviida’s GPUs. This technological advancement by Korean companies suggests that they could potentially reverse the market dynamics in favor of GDDR7, entering a new era in the industry.