Samsung’s HBM4 Passes Initial Nvidia Quality Evaluation [U]

Update: Shortly after the report emerged that Samsung’s HBM4 samples had passed Nvidia’s quality test, a reliable semiconductor expert revealed that the report was inaccurate. As things stand, Nvidia hasn’t approved Samsung’s HBM4 chips. The original article follows:

Last month, Samsung sent its 6th-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) sample to Nvidia. The Korean firm has reportedly passed reliability testing and is now gearing up to enter the pre-production stage later this month. If the company clears this stage, it will begin mass production of HBM4 as early as the end of the year.

Samsung is on track to enter Nvidia’s HBM4 supply chain

While Samsung is still struggling to enter Nvidia’s HBM supply chain with its HBM3E chip, the company is making progress with HBM4. According to a report from Sedaily, Samsung’s HBM4 has passed the initial prototype and quality tests. This is a big achievement for Samsung, as its previous generation 12-layer chip has not yet met Nvidia’s quality standard. The report further says the memory will enter the pre-production (PP) stage at the end of this month.

“I understand that it has entered the PP stage after receiving positive evaluations in the quality sector, including yield,” an industry insider told the publication. “If it passes the PP stage, mass production is possible in November or December.” The PP stage involves testing for compatibility with customer graphics processing units (GPUs). On top of that, the chip should meet high-quality standards under specific temperature conditions.

So, Samsung will need to clear one more test to secure a deal with Nvidia. Once it passes the final evaluation, the company will start full-scale production. Nvidia will use these chips in its next-generation AI accelerator, Rubin. Meanwhile, industry leader SK Hynix remains Nvidia’s main HBM supplier. The company delivered HBM4 samples in March and began early supply in June, with mass production planned for October.

There is also chatter that Samsung will obtain Nvidia’s quality test certification later this month and begin supplying its 12-layer HBM3E product right away. Nvidia recently received approval from the US government to supply its low-spec AI accelerator H20 in China. Samsung probably saw this as an opportunity and offered the HBM3E for H20 at a price 20–30% lower than SK Hynix’s. This could be the reason why Nvidia is ramping up the certification process for Samsung’s 5th-generation HBM chip. We will learn more about this in the coming weeks.