Samsung Electronics, a provider of advanced memory technology, announced that it has begun testing the industry's first 16 gigabit (Gb) Graphics Double Data Rate 6 (GDDR6) DRAM with processing speeds of 24 gigabit per second (Gbps).
Built on Samsung's third-generation 10 nanometer (1z) class process using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology, the new memory is designed to significantly improve graphics performance for next-generation graphics cards (Video Graphics Arrays), laptops , gaming consoles, artificial intelligence-based applications and high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
“The explosion of data now driven by AI and the metaverse is driving the need for greater graphics capabilities that can process massive sets of data simultaneously, at extremely high speeds,” said Daniel Lee, executive vice president of the product planning team at Samsung memory. “With our industry-first 24 Gbps GDDR6 sampling, we look forward to validating graphics DRAM on next-generation GPU platforms to bring it to market in time to meet an onslaught of new demand.”
Engineered with an innovative circuit design and a highly advanced insulating material (High-K Metal Gate; HKMG) that minimizes current leakage, Samsung's 24 Gbps GDDR6 will deliver 30% faster speeds compared to the previous 18 Gbps product. Gbps. When integrated with a premium graphics card, GDDR6 DRAM can transfer up to 1.1 terabytes (TB) of data, or about 275 Full HD movies, in just one second.
Designed to be fully compliant with JEDEC specifications, Samsung's GDDR6 DRAM will be compatible with all GPU designs, facilitating broad market adoption across a wide range of graphics solutions.
Samsung's new GDDR6 lineup will also feature low-power options that help extend the battery life of laptops. Using Dynamic Voltage Switching (DVS) technology, which adjusts operating voltage depending on performance requirements, Samsung will deliver 20 and 16 Gbps versions with approximately 20% greater power efficiency at 1.1 V, compared to standard industry standard 1.35V GDDR6.
Graphics DRAM is increasingly sought after for use beyond PCs, laptops and gaming consoles, extending to other graphics-intensive applications such as HPC, autonomous driving and electric cars. Serving these emerging markets, Samsung's GDDR6 will enable seamless 4 and 8K video playback while supporting demanding AI accelerator workloads.
Samsung continues to lead the graphics DRAM market globally and predicts high-performance graphics will see double-digit annual growth in the coming years.
