NVIDIA has asked Samsung to double its GDDR7 memory production, according to reports in the Korean media. The GDDR7 memory is used in NVIDIA's latest AI GPU accelerators, and the sources believe that the production increase request also relates to these chips. The details share that NVIDIA has told Samsung it will double its GDDR7, which requires the latter to expand its production of the latest memory chips.
NVIDIA Ups GDDR7 Orders Likely In Preparation For Blackwell B40 China Specific AI GPU Production
NVIDIA's latest earnings saw its Chinese sales restrictions take the spotlight again as the firm did not record any revenue from the sales of its China-specific H20 AI GPUs. However, after the earnings, CEO Jensen Huang outlined in an interview that he was in talks with the Trump administration to secure licenses for the next-generation of China-specific AI GPUs.
These GPUs are dubbed the Blackwell B40 chips, and they purportedly rely on GDDR7 memory instead of HBM memory as the latter is subject to US export control restrictions. Huang's comments appeared to be targeted towards assuring investors that his firm had future China revenue in the pipeline even though it did not ship any H20 products to the country in the second quarter.
Consequently, today's report from South Korea's ET News makes it likely that NVIDIA believes it can secure US approval for the B40 chips. In a press conference at the White House last month, President Trump confirmed that Huang had approached him for the Blackwell approvals. "
"Now, on the Blackwell, I think he's coming to see me again about that but that will be an unenhanced version of the big one," Trump had said.
Now, a report from ETNews claims that NVIDIA has asked Samsung to double its GDDR7 memory production in anticipation of more orders. Sources again speculate that the GDDR7 memory chips will be used in the B40 chips, as NVIDIA is preparing to sell the China-specific chips in large volumes to the Asian country.
Adding financial details into the mix, the sources speculate that the GDDR7 substrates from NVIDIA might cost as much as KRW200 billion or roughly $144 million. The China-specific B40's GDDR7 demand also marks a rare win for Samsung in the high-end AI GPU industry since the Korean firm has struggled with winning NVIDIA over with its HBM products.
Reports in the Korean press have claimed that Samsung is eager to enter NVIDIA's HBM supply chain by reducing product prices. Others have claimed that the Korean firm is reportedly supplying NVIDIA with HBM3e memory chips that could be used in NVIDIA's latest Blackwell Ultra AI GPUs.
About the author: Ramish is a seasoned technology writer and editor with more than a decade of experience. He specializes in semiconductor fabrication and market analysis. With a background in finance and supply chain management - via his bachelors in Finance and a micromasters in supply chain management from MIT - Ramish combines financial rigor with deep industry insight to deliver accurate and authoritative coverage.
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