Samsung has developed a new generation of GDDR6W memory technology
According to TechPowerUp, the demand for high-performance, high-capacity, and high-bandwidth memory in virtual world technology continues to grow. In order to meet market demand, Samsung has developed a new generation of “GDDR6W (x64)”, which is the industry’s first next-generation memory technology, which can effectively improve bandwidth and capacity.
GDDR6W is based on Samsung’s GDDR6(x32) products, and through the introduction of FOWLP technology, the memory bandwidth and capacity have been greatly improved. GDDR6 has improved significantly since its introduction, and last July, Samsung developed 24 Gbps GDDR6 memory, which is currently the fastest in the industry. On top of this, the bandwidth and capacity of GDDR6W have doubled, while the size remains the same as GDDR. Due to the same size, the production process used to produce GDDR6 can also be quickly converted to produce GDDR6W chips, and use FOWLP construction and stacking technology to reduce manufacturing time and cost. FOWLP technology directly mounts memory die on a silicon wafer, instead of a PCB. In doing so, RDL (Re-distribution layer) technology is applied, enabling much finer wiring patterns. Additionally, as there’s no PCB involved, it reduces the thickness of the package and improves heat dissipation.
GDDR6W can support HBM-level bandwidth at the system level. Based on 4K system-level I/O, the system-level bandwidth of HBM2E is 1.6 TB/s, and the transmission rate per pin is 3.2 Gbps. On the other hand, GDDR6W can reach a bandwidth of 1.4 TB/s based on 512 system-level I/Os and a transfer rate of 22Gpbs per pin. Also, compared to HBM2E, GDDR6W reduces the number of I/Os to about 1/8, making it more cost-effective.
“By applying an advanced packaging technology to GDDR6, GDDR6W delivers twice the memory capacity and performance of similar-sized packages,” said CheolMin Park, Vice President of New Business Planning, Samsung Electronics Memory Business. “With GDDR6W, we’re able to foster differentiated memory products that can satisfy various customer needs – a major step towards securing our leadership in the market.”
Samsung Electronics completed the JEDEC standardization of GDDR6W products in the second quarter of this year. Samsung Electronics also announced that it will expand the application of GDDR6W to small-sized devices such as notebook computers and new high-performance accelerators for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing applications through cooperation with graphics card manufacturers.
