SK Hynix teases 4GB LPDDR3 RAM for high-end mobiles due end of this year
Samsung is already pressing ahead with its own high-density 20nm LPDDR3 modules, but SK Hynix reckons it can go one better. Instead of the stingy, piffling, retro 2GB stack offered by Sammy (pah!), the Korean memory specialist says it's sampling 20nm 8Gb (1GB) chips that can be stacked to provide 4GB of RAM in high-end mobile devices. This memory will come with all the trimmings and trappings of high-density LPDDR3, including a data transmission speed of 2,133Mbps (vs. 1,600Mbps offered by existing LPDDR3 phones like the GS4), a thinner profile and less power consumption in standby mode compared to LPDDR2. That just leaves the question of "when?," to which SK Hynix confusingly answers that we'll see products "noticeably loaded" with more than 2GB of LPDDR3 during the second half of this year, although it doesn't intend to start mass production of this exact chip until the end of the year. Of course, there'll come a point in 2014 when even mid-range processors like ARM's Cortex-A12 will theoretically be able to address more than 4GB, so that amount of RAM may not even seem so outlandish.
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SK Hynix Inc. (or 'the Company', www.skhynix.com) announced that it has developed the world's first 8Gb(Gigabit) LPDDR3(Low Power DDR3) using its advanced 20nm class process technology. This product is a top-performance mobile memory solution which features high density, ultrahigh speed and low power consumption.
The new products can be stacked up and realize a high density of maximum 4GB(Gigabytes, 32Gb) solution in a single package. In addition, the height of this package becomes dramatically thinner than the existing 4Gb-based one. In terms of its high density and competitive package height, it is suitable for the newest trend of the mobile applications.
The product works at 2133Mbps which surpasses 1600Mbps of existing LPDDR3 in the aspect of its data transmission speed and is the world's fastest mobile DRAM. With a 32-bit I/O it processes up to 8.5GB of data per second in a single channel, and 17GB in a dual channel. It works at ultra low-voltage of 1.2V.
While this new LPDDR3 runs two times faster than LPDDR2, its standby power consumption decreases more than 10% compared to LPDDR2 products, therefore it satisfies both low power consumption and high performance which mobile applications highly demand.
It can be provided in various forms such as 'PoP'(Package on Package) or being in a single package with 'eMMC'(embedded Multi Media Card) which is installed in mobile gadgets as well as 'On-board' type embedded in high-end ultrabooks and tablets.
"With the development of this high density LPDDR3 using 20nm class, SK Hynix is now able to supply a top-performance product suitable for mobile devices to the market", Senior Vice President Richard Chin, the Head of Global Sales & Marketing said. "Especially, this development has its significance since the Company has secured top-level competitiveness in mobile products by developing it simultaneously with PC DRAM using the same 20nm class process technology" he added.
Samples of this new product have been shipped to customers and the Company plans to start mass production of it at the end of this year.
High density LPDDR3 memory products over 2GB are expected to be noticeably loaded mainly on to high-end mobile devices from the second half of this year. To meet the growing needs of mobile market, SK Hynix plans to develop the most advanced technologies for the rapidly evolving mobile applications industry and will lead the market with the high performance products.
