NVIDIA Accelerates Efforts to Certify Samsung's HBM3E Memory for AI GPUs

NVIDIA working 'as fast as it can' to get Samsung HBM3E memory certified for its new AI GPUs

NVIDIA is "working as fast as it can" to certify Samsung's new AI memory chips -- HBM3E -- with CEO Jensen Huang himself telling Bloomberg TV. Jensen talked with the press after attending a ceremony at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where the NVIDIA CEO was given an honorary doctorate in engineering. Jensen said that NVIDIA is looking at ways to purchase 8-layer and 12-layer HBM3E memory chips from Samsung, while as it stands, the company is acquiring most of its HBM chips used on its AI GPUs, from South Korean rival SK hynix. Earlier this week during NVIDIA's Q3 2024 post-earnings call with analysts, the CEO didn't mention Samsung when talking about the company's major suppliers -- naming SK hynix and Micron -- but now, the company is "working as fast as it can" to get Samsung HBM3E certified. Samsung said that it was making "significant progress" on supplying HBM3E memory chips to major clients including NVIDIA, during its Q3 2024 earnings call on October 31. Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Kim Jae-june said: "We have made significant process by completing critical steps in the quality testing with key clients, which should enable expanded sales in the fourth quarter" adding that Samsung plans to "release improved HBM3E chips based on the timeline of next-generation GPUs that [their] major clients are working on". SK hynix has been dominating the HBM market for a while now, with fellow South Korean giant Samsung falling considerably behind. Samsung has had major changes in its leadership within its semiconductor business, its internal Samsung Foundry business, and more... so let's hope that NVIDIA speeding up the process gets Samsung into the HBM3E game earlier, rather than later. NVIDIA stepping in and helping makes sense, as the company needs to feed itself with as many HBM memory chips as possible, as it's selling every single AI GPU it is getting fabbed from TSMC and made by its key manufacturing and production partners. Missing (more) of its required HBM memory chips is not good, so getting the third major HBM manufacturer onboard will help facilitate NVIDIA's continued AI GPU growth into 2025 and beyond.

NVIDIA Is Still Working Upon Securing AI "HBM" Memory Supply From Samsung, Despite Recent Setbacks

Samsung's ambition to secure NVIDIA as an HBM customer is not over yet, as a new report suggests that Team Green is still working on a breakthrough. For those unaware, well, the Korean giant isn't having a great time regarding its HBM business and adoption of the mainstream AI markets, given that a few weeks ago, we reported on how Samsung disclosed that they haven't managed to secure NVIDIA as a customer. This not only resulted in a financial hit for the company, but many anticipated that it was over for Samsung and that its plans were to be included in NVIDIA's supply chain. However, Bloomberg reports that NVIDIA's CEO has disclosed that they are working with Samsung to certify their "AI memory" chips, claiming that they are working "as fast as possible" to initiate the HBM business with the Korean giant. Jensen made this statement during an interview at an event at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Team Green is said to be looking at securing 8-Hi and 12-Hi HBM3E from Samsung, and given the massive demand the company faces, NVIDIA must conclude soon. For Samsung, well securing orders from the green team is a crucial development for them in the AI markets, given that this partnership would put the Korean giant on level with competitors such as SK hynix, which will ultimately change the investors' stance towards a more bullish one for Samsung. Apart from this, getting involved in NVIDIA's supply chain will open up prospects for Samsung, and since the Korean giant has a semiconductor supply as well, NVIDIA can potentially benefit from it, too. It would be interesting to see whether Samsung manages to earn NVIDIA's trust moving into the future. Given that the qualification process has now extended to such a long period of time, Team Green would surely manage to include the Korean giant in its supply chain.