JEDEC rubber stamps the GDDR7 spec, mega bandwidth VRAM is on its way for next-gen GPUs

HardwareGraphics CardsJEDEC rubber stamps the GDDR7 spec, mega bandwidth VRAM is on its way for next-gen GPUsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Samsung)

An generic image of Samsung GDDR7 modules against a background of Samsung silicon wafer diagrams

When it comes to graphics cards, a significant portion of their performance comes from the onboard VRAM. That memory not only has to store masses of data for rendering or compute, it also needs to be able to transfer data very rapidly. JEDEC, the semiconductor standards body, hasfinalised the specifications of GDDR7, the next generation of ultra-fast video RAM, with double the bandwidth of GDDR6.

News of the spec approval (viaTechPowerUp) has been well received and for good reason, as it’s not just the raw speed that’s better. At the moment, if you want the fastest VRAM, you either buy 24Gbps GDDR6 from Samsung or 24GbpsGDDR6Xfrom Micron (the only company to make that type of memory).

GDDR7 pushes them all aside, as it will be able to reach 32Gbps and, in time, will probably go even higher. To give you an idea of what that actually means, aRadeon RX 7900 XTXuses 20Gbps GDDR6 for a total of 960 GB/s of bandwidth. Swap that for GDDR7 and you’re looking at up to 1,536 GB/s.

GDDR7 will be able to switch between PAM-3 and NRZ, depending on the load being placed upon it. When outright performance is required, the PAM-3 is activated, but for situations where reduced energy consumption is important (e.g. non-gaming, desktop use), then NRZ kicks in to keep things nice and cool.

The new VRAM spec also increases the bit density of the memory modules. GDDR6 is limited to 16Gb (2GB) per chip, but JEDEC has ratified support for up to 32Gb densities and clamshell mode is available again. In plain English, a graphics card with a 128-bit memory bus could, in theory, be equipped with 32GB of VRAM.

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I don’t expect we’ll see full-blown 32Gbps, 32Gb GDDR7 modules being used on graphics cards any time soon, though, as it will take a while for Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix to hone and ramp up production. What we’ll probably get to begin with are modules that are around 28 to 30Gbps but still 16Gb in density. In other words, the next generation of GPUs will be sporting VRAM that’s around 25% faster but no larger in terms of storage capacity.

As to which GPU vendor will be first to jump onto the GDDR7 bandwagon, I suspect that it will be Nvidia, although there is a slim possibility that AMD might get there first if it launches RDNA 4 before theconsumer version of Blackwellhits the shelves. However, GDDR7 is likely to be pretty expensive to start with, and withAMD leaning more towards the mainstream sector for its next round of Radeons, it will probably stick with GDDR6.

Whatever ultimately happens, the vendor first to market with a GDDR7-powered graphics card is going to make a huge fuss about it.

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