Samsung Electronics Co is getting close to securing certification from Nvidia Corp for the latest version of its artificial intelligence (AI) memory chip, called HBM4, making progress in narrowing the gap with rival SK Hynix Inc.
The Suwon, South Korea-based company has entered the final qualification phase with Nvidia, after supplying its initial samples to the US chipmaker in September last year, people familiar with the matter said.
Nvidia uses vast quantities of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to enable its AI accelerators.
Photo: Reuters
Samsung is preparing for mass production of HBM4 next month, said the people, who asked not to be named as the information is private.
The company would be ready to ship soon, although exact timing is not yet clear.
Samsung’s shares yesterday gained as much as 3.2 percent in Seoul before paring gains, while SK Hynix’s stock slid by about the same amount.
A Samsung representative declined to comment.
Samsung trails SK Hynix and Micron Technology Inc at the forefront of AI memory, but all three companies have seen their shares surge dramatically in the past few weeks as the AI rush has produced a shortage of memory for the broader electronics industry. Between them, the three leading memorychip manufacturers have gained about US$900 billion in market value since the start of September last year.
Investor hopes are rising that Samsung might be able to join its rivals in supplying components for Nvidia’s upcoming flagship Vera Rubin processors. So far, Nvidia has leaned most heavily on SK Hynix for the most sophisticated memory chips it pairs with its top-of-the-line AI accelerators.
The Korea Economic Daily reported earlier that Samsung is slated to begin HBM4 shipments to Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices Inc next month.
Samsung and SK Hynix are slated to hold their earnings calls on Thursday, and they are expected to discuss progress on their HBM4 chips.
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