Samsung has announced the industry’s first 16 gigabit (Gb) DRAM 6 (GDDR6) graphics memory with a processing speed of 24 gigabits per second (Gb/s). It is developed using Samsung’s third-generation 10-nanometer class (1z)1 technology using extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV). The new memory is designed to significantly improve graphics performance for next-generation graphics cards, laptops, game consoles, and applications based on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC).

“The explosion of data now being driven by AI and the metaverse is pushing the need for greater graphics capabilities that can process massive data sets simultaneously, at extremely high speeds,” said Daniel Lee, executive vice president of the Memory Product Planning Team at Samsung Electronics. “With our industry-first 24Gbps GDDR6 now sampling, we look forward to validating the graphics DRAM on next-generation GPU platforms to bring it to market in time to meet an onslaught of new demand.”

With innovative circuit design and high-quality insulation material (High-K Metal Gate; HKMG) that minimizes current leakage, Samsung’s 24 Gb/s GDDR6 will deliver 30% faster speeds compared to previous 18 Gb/s designs. When integrated into a premium graphics card, GDDR6 DRAM can transfer up to 1.1 terabytes (TB) of data, or about 275 Full HD movies, in just one second.

Designed to fully comply with JEDEC specifications, Samsung GDDR6 DRAM will be compatible with all GPU designs, promoting widespread market adoption.

Samsung’s new GDDR6 memory lineup will also have low-power options to help extend notebook battery life. Using Dynamic Voltage Switching (DVS) technology, which adjusts the operating voltage based on performance requirements, Samsung will deliver 20Gbps and 16Gbps versions with approximately 20% higher energy efficiency at 1.1V compared to the industry standard 1, 35 V GDDR6.

Graphics DRAM is increasingly being used not only in PCs, laptops, and game consoles, but also in other graphics-intensive tasks, such as HPC, autonomous driving systems, and electric vehicles. For these industries, GDDR6 will be able to provide seamless playback of 4K and 8K video while supporting demanding AI workloads.