The first generation of GDDR7 memory modules are yet to become available in consumer-grade products and it looks like manufacturers are already showcasing what the new standard is truly capable of.
SK hynix Fires Back At Samsung With The Display of Its Next-Gen GDDR7 Memory Modules For Next-Gen GPUs, Up To 160 GB/s Bandwidth Per Module & 3 GB Capacities
While there are reports that the first generation of GDDR7 memory products will utilize the 28 Gbps dies in 16 Gb (2 GB VRAM) capacities, DRAM manufacturers aren't stopping by showcasing what their next-gen products have to offer.
At GTC 2024, SK hynix displayed its GDDR7 memory modules which will be offering up to 40 Gbps pin speeds for up to 160 GB/s bandwidth per module. The GDDR7 standard will have a baseline speed of 32 Gbps, delivering 128 GB/s bandwidth per module so we are looking at a 25% boost in terms of bandwidth with future variations of GDDR7. Samsung is also racing towards GDDR7 DRAM production and the company also showcased its memory modules at GTC, albeit in 16 Gb & 32 Gbps flavors. The company has also revealed modules with up to 37 Gbps pin speeds.
Furthermore, the memory will be available in a range of capacities with up to 24 Gb being listed now with the baseline being set at 16 Gb. With 16 Gb modules, you get 2 GB of VRAM capacity & with 24 Gb, you get 3 GB of VRAM capacity. But we have already reported the specifications that are published by JEDEC and those confirm that GDDR7 will go as high as 48 Gbps speeds and 64 Gb densities (8 GB VRAM capacity). That will mark a huge increase in video memory capacities with a 256-bit standard interface offering 64 GB capacity.
For comparison, the current maximum you can achieve with a 256-bit bus interface is 16 GB using 16 Gb DRAM modules. The 24 Gb DRAM modules boost that up to 24 GB. But once again, these are speeds and capacities that we shouldn't expect right off the bat. Such specifications may only be available beyond 2026-2027 which is years away from now. Following is what we can expect from the first generation of GDDR7-powered memory products:
- 512-bit / 28 Gbps / 32 GB (Max Memory) / 1792 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 384-bit / 28 Gbps / 24 GB (Max Memory) / 1344 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 256-bit / 28 Gbps / 16 GB (Max Memory) / 896.0 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 192-bit / 28 Gbps / 12 GB (Max Memory) / 672.0 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 128-bit / 28 Gbps / 8 GB (Max Memory) / 448.0 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
And the following is what we can expect from SK hynix's 40 Gbps & 24 Gb GDDR7 DRAM products when they become available:
- 512-bit / 40 Gbps / 48 GB (Max Memory) / 2560 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 384-bit / 40 Gbps / 36 GB (Max Memory) / 1920 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 256-bit / 40 Gbps / 24 GB (Max Memory) / 1280 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 192-bit / 40 Gbps / 18 GB (Max Memory) / 960.0 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
- 128-bit / 40 Gbps / 12 GB (Max Memory) / 640.0 GB/s (Max Bandwidth)
Besides the GDDR7 memory modules, SK hynix is also showcasing its DDR5 MCR DIMM's which offer up to 64 GB capacity per module at speeds of up to 8800 MT/s and with a voltage of 1.1V. There are a lot of innovative products coming out in the next few years in the DRAM & memory segment so you best stay tuned as more information comes by.
GDDR Graphics Memory Evolution:
| GRAPHICS MEMORY | GDDR7 | GDDR6X | GDDR6 | GDDR5X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workload | Gaming / AI | Gaming / AI | Gaming / AI | Gaming |
| Platform (Example) | GeForce RTX 5090 | GeForce RTX 4090 | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti |
| Die Capacity (Gb) | 16-64 | 8-32 | 8-32 | 8-16 |
| Number of Placements | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Gb/s/pin | 28-48 | 19-24 | 14-16 | 11.4 |
| GB/s/placement | 112-192 | 76-96 | 56-64 | 45 |
| GB/s/system | 1536-2304 | 912-1152 | 672-768 | 547 |
| Configuration (Example) | 384 IO (12pcs x 32 IO package)? | 384 IO (12pcs x 32 IO package) | 384 IO (12pcs x 32 IO package) | 384 IO (12pcs x 32 IO package) |
| Frame Buffer of Typical System | 24 GB (16 Gb) 36 GB (24 Gb) | 24 GB | 12GB | 12GB |
| Module Package | 266 (BGA) | 180 (BGA) | 180 (BGA) | 190 (BGA) |
| Average Device Power (pJ/bit) | TBD | 7.25 | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Typical IO Channel | PCB (P2P SM) | PCB (P2P SM) | PCB (P2P SM) | PCB (P2P SM) |
News Source: HardwareLuxx
About the author: A Software Engineer by training and a PC enthusiast by passion, Hassan Mujtaba serves as Wccftech's Senior Editor for hardware section. With years of experience in the industry, he specializes in deep-dive technical analysis of next-generation CPU and GPU architectures, motherboards, and cooling solutions. His work involves not only breaking news on upcoming technologies but also extensive hands-on reviews and benchmarking.
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