Samsung Announces 24Gbps GDDR6 DRAM for 30% Faster Speeds

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday it has begun sampling a 16GB Graphics Double Data Rate 6 (GDDR6) DRAM featuring 24-gigabit-per-second processing speeds.

The new high-speed memory chips for graphics cards are built on Samsung’s third-generation 10-nanometer class process using EUV technology and are designed to ramp up graphics performance for the next generation of graphics cards, AI-based applications, and server and network infrastructure for high performance computing systems.

Samsung says its 24Gbp/s GDDR6 DRAM is engineered with an innovative circuit design to minimize data leakage with an advanced insulating material, High-K Metal Gate. It will deliver 30% faster speeds than its 18Gbp/s predecessor that was introduced in Jan. 2018. The GDDR6 DRAM will transfer up to 1.1TB of data per second when integrated with a premium graphics card. The company designed it to be compliant with JEDEC standards and to work with a broad range of GPU designs and manufacturers.

Samsung’s 24Gbps GDDR6 DRAM. Source: Samsung

In the near future, the new GDDR6 lineup will include low-power options that use dynamic voltage switching technology that can automatically adjust operating voltage based on performance needs. Samsung says it will provide 20Gbps and 16Gbps versions with approximately 20% higher power efficiency at 1.1V, compared to the 1.35V GDDR6 industry standard.

Graphics DRAM was once primarily used for consumer computing in PCs, laptops, and gaming consoles, but its use for graphics-heavy research and enterprise applications is growing, especially in HPC and data-driven AI projects. Samsung states it is addressing these newer uses cases with the GDDR6’s capabilities for seamless 4K and 8K video playback as well as support for AI accelerator workloads where higher bandwidth and lower latency are key. The company predicts double-digit growth in the global DRAM market in the years ahead.

“The explosion of data now being driven by AI and the metaverse is pushing the need for greater graphics capabilities that can process massive data sets simultaneously, at extremely high speeds,” said Daniel Lee, Executive Vice President of the Memory Product Planning Team at Samsung Electronics. “With our industry-first 24Gbps GDDR6 now sampling, we look forward to validating the graphics DRAM on next-generation GPU platforms to bring it to market in time to meet an onslaught of new demand.”

Samsung is starting customer verifications this month and plans to bring the GDDR6 to market to correspond with GPU platform launches.

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