SK hynix LPDDR5T Verified as World's Fastest Mobile DRAM

[GFreeman]

SK hynix's LPDDR5T (Low Power Double Data Rate 5 Turbo) has completed performance verification for application with MediaTek's next-generation mobile APs. Developed in January 2023, the LPDDR5T is the world's fastest mobile DRAM, achieving operating speeds of 9.6 gigabits per second (Gbps). SK hynix provided samples of its LPDDR5T to MediaTek, a leading global fabless semiconductor, in February 2023 for testing.

The performance tests were carried out using the next-generation MediaTek Dimensity flagship chipset, which is part of their Dimensity Platform series of mobile APs. Set to launch within this year, MediaTek's next-generation flagship mobile chipset will utilize 9.6 Gbps memory—the fastest operating speed for mobile devices. The global semiconductor industry had previously projected that operating speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps would only be achievable with future iterations such as the LPDDR6, which is scheduled to be released after 2026. SK hynix has expedited this timeline with the LPDDR5T.



Applied to a Range of Mobile Devices for 2024 Debut
As the standardization approval process with the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) is already in its final stages, the LPDDR5T is gearing up for its full market debut. SK hynix predicts that the generational change of DRAM for mobile devices will accelerate from next year when products are standardized and market supply begins in earnest.

"As a result of our close collaboration with SK hynix, MediaTek's next-generation flagship Dimensity chipset is the world's first to be validated at LPDDR5T operating speeds up to 9.6 Gbps, enabling upcoming devices to unleash an unprecedented level of mobile performance," said JC Hsu, Corporate Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Wireless Communications Business Unit at MediaTek. "Using this updated architecture, developers and users alike will be able to get more out of their devices than ever before."

Sungsoo Ryu, head of DRAM Product Planning at SK hynix, said: "SK hynix's partnership with MediaTek is set to play a key role in the LPDDR5T's market entry. Starting with this performance verification, we will expand the scope of product supply to further strengthen the leadership of the mobile DRAM market."

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[Zunexxx]

Interesting, this would be helpful for igpu products like handheld consoles. Currently they are all bottlenecked by vram bandwidth as they share it with the system memory, this should help quite a bit.

 

[Denver]

Interesting, this would be helpful for igpu products like handheld consoles. Currently they are all bottlenecked by vram bandwidth as they share it with the system memory, this should help quite a bit.

TDP is also a limitation as big as or bigger than available bandwidth, the 780M can only reach maximum performance at 45w+, Perhaps 8 cores is also unbalanced for a gaming-focused mobile SOC.

 

[Zunexxx]

TDP is also a limitation as big as or bigger than available bandwidth, the 780M can only reach maximum performance at 45w+, Perhaps 8 cores is also unbalanced for a gaming-focused mobile SOC.

I agree, if Asus could somehow allow us to disable cores in bios, that would greatly help, zen4 quad core at 4ghz+ is more than enough for most games when u don't really max out settings.

 

[A&P211]

I agree, if Asus could somehow allow us to disable cores in bios, that would greatly help, zen4 quad core at 4ghz+ is more than enough for most games when u don't really max out settings.

If you are talking about laptop, you can disable cores in the Armory crate software.

 

[tabascosauz]

Interesting, this would be helpful for igpu products like handheld consoles. Currently they are all bottlenecked by vram bandwidth as they share it with the system memory, this should help quite a bit.

iGPUs also don't just scale infinitely. Currently 12CU iGPUs get some gains from LPDDR5(x)-6400+ over DDR5-4800 but relatively modest as expected.

On 680M the overall hardware/cooling implementation was arguably more important than the LPDDR5 configuration chosen, and the 780M is no different.

For future iGPUs it will be interesting to see if AMD sees a need to expand the core further since so far the 780M is running close to 3GHz out of the box. Also if AMD's DDR5/LPDDR5 UMC improves significantly to actually be able to run UCLK in 1:1 in mobile parts.

 

[Zunexxx]

If you are talking about laptop, you can disable cores in the Armory crate software.

U can't thou, not particular cores, u can disable ecores on Intel, but not the p cores or normal cores on AMD

 

[A&P211]

U can't thou, not particular cores, u can disable ecores on Intel, but not the p cores or normal cores on AMD

On the laptop that I used, it stopped at 4 cores min that you can disable.

 

[konga]

The 12CU 780M can probably make some use of this, but it won't be a total game changer. However, this is exactly what the 40CU Strix Halo launching next year wants.

 

[Cheeseball]

U can't thou, not particular cores, u can disable ecores on Intel, but not the p cores or normal cores on AMD

On the ASUS TUF laptops (not the ROG Ally), they seem to do allow disabling CPU cores in their Armory Crate software for both certain Intel and AMD models. I tested this with the the FA617NS-A16 (Ryzen 7 7735HS, which is technically a re-badged 6800H) with 4 disabled cores.

Likewise, they didn't enable it on last year's ROG Z13 (12900H + 3050Ti) which would've been perfect for saving battery life. They did enable it on this year's 13900H model but I have not personally tested that yet.

 

[Minus Infinity]

TDP is also a limitation as big as or bigger than available bandwidth, the 780M can only reach maximum performance at 45w+, Perhaps 8 cores is also unbalanced for a gaming-focused mobile SOC.

So how do you reckon Sarlak will go with it's 120W rating. 16 CPU cores, 40CU's for the iGPU and at least 6700XT performance most people are anticipating. This will thrive on the faster memory. Let's hope next gen supports this.

 

[TumbleGeorge]

This RAM is for smartphones? What a messy in my head. Why talking for laptop APU's?

 

[konga]

This RAM is for smartphones? What a messy in my head. Why talking for laptop APU's?

It's for mobile devices in general, which includes laptops. Mediatek just happens to be the first to support it with their phone SoC, but it can and likely will be used in a variety of other applications.

 

[TheLostSwede]

It's for mobile devices in general, which includes laptops. Mediatek just happens to be the first to support it with their phone SoC, but it can and likely will be used in a variety of other applications.

Depends on the chip packaging. Based on the picture, this is for PoP only, i.e. Package on Package, which is for mobile SoCs only.
If you compare with the second picture in their press release about 24 GB LPDDR5X, you'll see that comes in two different packaging types, with the rectangular being for laptops.

SK hynix Starts Mass Production of Industry's First 24GB LPDDR5X DRAM

SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has begun supplying the industry's first 24-gigabyte (GB) Low Power Double Data Rate 5X (LPDDR5X) mobile DRAM package to its customers, following the mass production of LPDDR5X in November 2022. SK hynix, in January...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[TumbleGeorge]

Here I have to ask if LPDDR5T is already available in a package suitable for mounting in laptop memory modules? However, this is a new modification compared to LPDDR5X and was originally announced in early 2023, if I'm not mistaken. The other article is talking about LPDDR5X, not LPDDR5T.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Here I have to ask if LPDDR5T is already available in a package suitable for mounting in laptop memory modules? However, this is a new modification compared to LPDDR5X and was originally announced in early 2023, if I'm not mistaken. The other article is talking about LPDDR5X, not LPDDR5T.

LPDDR doesn't come in DIMMs, so no. Solder down only.
And yes, the two press releases are about different products, but both are available in PoP packaging, whereas this doesn't appear to be available in standard PC memory packaging as yet.