Samsung aims to become a leader in the growing HBM market. But the company has been facing multiple setbacks with its fifth-generation HBM3E chips. As the chips have not met the requirements of major clients like NVIDIA, Samsung has failed to secure orders. Despite that, the Korean firm has reportedly already begun mass production of a 12-layer HBM3E chip for NVIDIA. It looks like Samsung is optimistic that it will receive approval soon.
Samsung pushes 12-layer HBM3E into mass production
Samsung has been heavily investing in the HBM advanced process, but it’s struggling with NVIDIA’s certification process for the HBM3E chip. The chip has undergone multiple redesigns to improve Nvidia’s key evaluation score. Just recently, Samsung lost a deal from Google because its redesigned 12-layer HBM3E solution still has some issues.
While the company has yet to pass the quality test from its clients, it has already ramped up production of its 12-layer HBM3E chips. According to a report from Korean outlet ZDNET, Samsung began preemptive mass production of 12-layer HBM3E products for Nvidia around February 2025. An earlier report suggested that Nvidia may award the certificate to Samsung in June 2025 if its redesigned chip achieves good scores in the key evaluation process.
So, Samsung is taking a risk by starting early mass production of its HBM3E chips. If the Korean firm again fails in Nvidia’s quality test in June, it will face another setback, leaving it with a large inventory. Still, the company remains confident in the commercialization of this 12-layer HBM3E. Maybe the company is producing an improved 12-layer HBM3E solution specially for Nvidia and not the one it sent to Google. If that’s not the case, the chances of passing Nvidia’s qualification test will be low.
However, a semiconductor industry insider told the publication, “Currently, Samsung Electronics internally believes that mass production approval for the 12-layer HBM3E for NVIDIA will be granted without a problem. Accordingly, we are preparing to increase production starting in February and immediately reap the sales effects after supply approval.”
