Samsung's latest GDDR6 modules as 50% faster than standard 16 Gbps chips
Published: 14th July 2022 | Source: Samsung | Author: Mark Campbell
Samsung delivers 24Gbps GDDR6 memory and new low power options for next-gen graphics cards
Memory matters, every gamer should know this. No matter how much computational performance your CPU or GPU has, you need enough memory to contain your workload and enough memory bandwidth to make use of your system's computational performance.
With AMD's RX 5000 series and RX 6000 series GPUs relying on GDDR6 memory, and GDDR7 memory being nowhere in sight, there was a risk that GDDR6 memory would not be fast enough to ensure that next-generation graphics cards would not be bandwidth limited. Thankfully, Samsung has managed to push the performance of their latest GDDR6 memory modules to new heights, just in time for the launch of next-generation graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia.
Samsung delivers the first 24 Gbps GDDR6 memory modules
Most of today's GDDR6 based graphics cards use 16 Gbps modules, with some newer models using 18 Gbps chips. Samsung's new 24 Gbps GDDR6 modules offer users a 50% bandwidth boost over 16 Gbps modules, and a 33.3% performance boost over 18 Gbps modules. Those are some huge bandwidth increases, and Samsung claims that these speeds have been delivered using their third-generation 10 nanometre-class process technology using Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools.
Samsung are already sampling their new 24Gbps GDDR6 memory modules to customers, and have confirmed that their GDDR6 memory modules are fully JEDEC complaint, making them compatible with all GDDR6-based GPU designs. This will allow customers to integrate 24 Gbps GDDR6 modules into their products with ease, because product will not require any major design changes.
GDDR6 overtakes GDDR6X
Nvidia utilised Micron's GDDR6X technology to overtake GDDR6 with their RTX 30 series products, offering speeds of up to 21 Gbps with their RTX 3090 Ti. Now, Samsung has overtaken GDDR6X's performance levels with JEDEC complaint GDDR6 memory, diminishing the usefulness of GDDR6X memory.
At this time, it is unknown if Nvidia plans to utilise GDDR6 or GDDR6X memory with their RTX 40 series graphics cards, as both can deliver similar levels of memory bandwidth. That said, moving from GDDR6X to GDDR6 could be viewed negatively by customers who may not know that new GDDR6 modules can exceed the bandwidth of GDDR6X
New Low Power GDDR6 options
Alongside their new 24 Gbps GDDR6 modules, Samsung has also created new 20 Gbps and 16Gbps modules that can deliver higher levels of power efficiency than standard GDDR6 modules.
Though dynamic voltage switching (DVS), Samsung's GDDR6 modules can deliver around 20% more power efficiency at 1.1V compared to standard 1.35 GDDR6 modules. These power savings will be useful for mobile devices.
What about next-gen GPU launches?
Samsung has confirmed that they have " plans to commercialize its 24Gbps GDDR6 DRAM in line with GPU platform launches", and that "customer verifications (are) starting this month". This means that we should expect to see 24 Gbps GDDR6 memory on some next-generation GPU products, which is great news for the GPU market.
With faster GDDR6 memory, purchasers of next-generation graphics cards should not expect to be memory bandwidth-limited; assuming that AMD and Nvidia have competently designed their next-generation graphics cards. 24 Gbps GDDR6 is 50% faster than standard 16 Gbps GDDR6 memory, and that should help deliver a strong generational boost in GPU performance.
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