LPDDR6 Unleashed: Memory Speeds Soar to 14.4 Gbps

The mainstream memory in the industry is currently transitioning to DDR5, and over the past two years, speeds have soared at an astonishing rate. Initially, at 4.8 Gbps, speeds above 6 Gbps are now common, marking the maturity phase of its lifecycle. Additionally, the earlier adopted LPDDR5 is due for an update, with the next generation of low-power memory standards arriving soon.

Recently, a user shared documents from Synopsys and the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association regarding the next-generation LPDDR6/DDR6 standards, providing more insights into the future of memory technology.

The LPDDR5 standard was released in 2019, starting with speeds of 6.4 Gbps. Subsequently, Samsung and Micron introduced LPDDR5x, boosting speeds to 8.533 Gbps, and SK Hynix followed with LPDDR5T, reaching 9.6 Gbps. According to the documents, the LPDDR6 channel width is set at 24 bits, with speeds starting at 10.667 Gbps, and preliminary speeds reaching up to 14.4 Gbps, offering bandwidths from 28.5GB/s to 38.4GB/s. There will also be further optimizations and enhancements in energy consumption and security.

Furthermore, the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association is also exploring LPDDR6 CAMM2 memory modules and their applications on desktop and server platforms.

After LPDDR6, the focus will shift to DDR6. Given that DDR5 was released later than LPDDR5, in July 2020, the DDR6 standard is still in the preliminary stages. It is expected to start at 8.8 Gbps and reach up to 17.6 Gbps, with potential extensions to 21 Gbps. Even without further extensions, these speeds would already double those of DDR5.

It is anticipated that the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association will release a draft of the DDR6 standard later this year, with the official specifications expected by the second quarter of next year. As for LPDDR6, rumors suggest that its official specifications will be announced in the third quarter of this year.