SK Hynix opens the possibility to 96GB DDR5

SK Hynix announced that it has begun sampling the first 24Gb DDR5 memory chips, opening the door to 48 and 96GB modules for next-generation servers, equipped with, among others, AMD's Genoa and Sapphire Rapids CPUs. Intel. Additionally, the same devices can be used to create 24GB unbuffered DIMMs for desktops and workstations. As a result, high-end servers could now be equipped with 768GB of DDR5 on a single module.

Photo Credit: SK Hynix SK Hynix's 24Gb (3GB) DDR5 memory chips are made using its 1 anm manufacturing process that relies on both ultraviolet (EUV) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography to increase density without sacrificing yield. SK Hynix says this system improves production efficiency and performance by up to 33%, indicating the significant increase in memory cell density with the new node. As we are dealing with DDR5, the new DRAM ICs will also help reduce system-wide power consumption.

Initial products based on the new 24Gb DDR5 devices will be 48GB Registered DIMM (20 IC) and 96GB (40 ICs) with ECC for next generation servers. Furthermore, SK Hynix can develop 8-Hi stacks with these ICs to create 24GB memory chips and then build 768GB modules on that base. Samsung is working on similar modules but has not yet announced a sampling schedule.

Credit: SK Hynix DRAM maker said large hyperscale cloud data centers would be the first customers to adopt these 48GB and 96GB RDIMMs for their servers. Neither AMD nor Intel currently sells server platforms that support DDR5, so it is possible that the first to use these new high-capacity DDR5 RDIMMs are Amazon Web Services Graviton3 System-On-Chip (SoC) based machines. SK Hynix stressed that it is partnering with Intel to validate new chips and modules for its upcoming server platform that supports DDR5, codenamed Sapphire Rapids.