SK Hynix launches HBM4 memory redesign to meet NVIDIA performance standards while navigating technical hurdles and competition with Samsung for AI market dominance and record profits
SK Hynix has started a complete redesign process for its High Bandwidth Memory 4 product because this marks a crucial point in the battle to control the artificial intelligence memory industry. The DealSite reports together with semiconductor industry sources indicate that the 11.7Gbps samples require additional enhancements before they can achieve the performance standards which NVIDIA has established as its maximum limits. The company plans to deliver advanced hardware for testing purposes by this year end deadline to maintain its dominant position in the high performance computing market.
The HBM4 architecture achieves its high level of technical complexity by using a 10 nanometer class 5th generation DRAM core die together with a 12 nanometer process base die from TSMC. The industry has identified that attempting to push old manufacturing methods to achieve 11.7Gbps performance levels creates major engineering difficulties. The current versions have better reliability at lower speeds which leads SK Hynix to provide its second highest tier products while the company develops high speed redesign work for a future full deployment next year.
NVIDIA is currently developing a dual tier system for its next graphics processing unit products which has led to this design strategy change. The Rubin AI platform lets NVIDIA achieve different performance levels because it uses both 11.7Gbps and 10.6Gbps chips to create performance distinctions. SK Hynix controls 60 percent of the complete supply chain through existing long term contracts while Samsung Electronics has emerged as the probable exclusive vendor for the fastest tier of products.
The competitive landscape has tightened as Samsung Electronics recently entered the early stages of mass production for its own HBM4 solutions. The temporary decline in SK Hynix shipments to NVIDIA exists because Samsung is currently filling specific supply chain gaps according to some industry analysts. Samsung has decided to keep its current production capacity limits because they have not yet reached 80 percent production yield. The balanced environment permits SK Hynix to enhance its top tier products while maintaining its extensive market presence.
