Samsung continues to be the top manufacturer when it comes to innovations in memory technology. Recently it announced the first ever 16 GB GDDR6 DRAM.
The company also confirmed that mass production has already begun, apparently intended for top-tier graphics processing. The company outlines several industries that will benefit from the added power, such as graphics cards, artificial intelligence systems, automotive, and gaming devices.
Meanwhile, it also started the production of its 2.4 Gbps per pin 8 GB HBM2 DRAM last week.
Manufacturing Innovation
The state-of-the-art component was made possible with the use of Samsung's cutting-edge 10-nanometer class process. For comparison, the new DRAM using the aforementioned process boasts of a 35 percent reduction in power consumption and twice the performance speed of a GDDR5 module.
It seems like a good move for the company to alternate from its 20-nanometer process to the new 10-nanometer due to the 30 percent increase in production gains.
Smaller And Faster
With the new 16 GB GDDR6 DRAM and its smaller footprint, data transfer speeds have also improved. As it stands, the module reportedly sports an 18 Gbps pin speed alongside data transfer speeds of 72 Gbps.
"Beginning with this early production of the industry's first 16 GB GDDR6, we will offer a comprehensive graphics DRAM line-up, with the highest performance and densities, in a very timely manner," according to Jinman Han, Memory Product Planning & Application Engineering senior vice president of Samsung Electronics.
"By introducing next-generation GDDR6 products, we will strengthen our presence in the gaming and graphics card markets and accommodate the growing need for advanced graphics memory in automotive and network systems," added Han.
Another First
While Samsung's memory innovation will in due course benefit graphics intensive requirements of different systems, its recently patented Metal 12 is likewise going to improve the production of consumer electronics such as computers, tablets, and mobile phones.
The new material is a special alloy of magnesium and aluminum, which is both lightweight and durable. For now, as a proof of concept, the South Korean electronics firm paraded the Notebook 9 during CES 2018. The metal-clad laptop looks and feels luxurious, according to attendees of the electronics show who were able to get some hands-on time with the device.
The first thing they noticed about the Notebook 9 is that despite the rugged appearance of its metal body, it was surprisingly very light.
DRAM Usage
With its record revenue, Samsung now holds the title as the world's biggest memory chip vendor after it unseated Intel from the spot. Its new 16 GB GDDR6 is poised to take over 8K displays, virtual reality, graphics processing, and gaming.
