Micron are set to release GDDR6 memory in 2017
Micron are set to release GDDR6 memory in 2017
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Micron is set to release GDDR6 memory in 2017, offering 2x the bandwidth of GDDR5 and up to 20% more efficient. This gives GDDR6 memory bandwidth of 16Gbps, which could, in theory, allow a GPU like the GTX 1080 to offer memory bandwidth of 512Gbps, which is as much as the HBM powered R9 Fury X.Â
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Right now the GDDR5X memory used in the GTX 1080 offers speeds of 10Gbps, with higher end GDDR5X offering speeds of 12Gbps. This gives GDDR6 a significant boost over even GDDR5X, allowing the GDDR memory standard to rival even HBM memory in terms of pure bandwidth. HBM and HBM2 memory will still offer power savings when compared to GDDR5 and GDDR6 memory, though this memory will require an expensive interposer to directly connect the memory to a GPU.Â
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Micron expects GDDR6 to be the world’s leading memory type in 2020, offering the same relative ease of use as the existing GDDR5 and GDDR5X memory standards, which should help with the adoption of this new memory standard over HBM.Â
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With GDDR6 releasing in late 2017 it is expected that we will be seeing products using the new memory standard in early-mid 2018. GDDR6 is expected to be used first in next-generation graphics products, though at this time it is unknown how it will compete with HBM2 in the high-end of the GPU market. Â
It is likely that HBM2 will continue to be used in high-end GPU products well into the future, with GDDR6 replacing the GDDR5 memory used in mid-range or low-end GPUs.Â
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You can join the discussion on Micron’s GDDR6 memory on the OC3D Forums.Â
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