Semiaccurate: Samsung rumored to exit GPU memory business

[blastingcap]

Rumor has it that Samsung is about to drop out of the GPU memory market. That would mean the number one supplier of GDDR5 is going away.
If this is true, it leaves Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, not to mention many specialty users, in quite a pickle. From Samsung’s point of view, it makes complete sense, low volumes, tight production tolerances, and few customers mean that even with decent margins, the net profit isn’t great.
With the GPU market imploding next year with Haswell and Kaveri, there doesn’t seem to be a future for GDDR5 that can be honestly tied to the word ‘volume’. For Samsung, a company about volume, this is a clear sign to bail out. And SemiAccurate moles say they are bailing.
We have not confirmed this with Samsung, but word has it that at least two of the three players listed above are already aware of the problem. If true, this could seriously shake up the GPU business, with volume buyers getting the first pick of scarce parts. We think Samsung will continue to make GDDR5, but not do the R&D necessary for any new spec. Keep an eye on this sector, it could get very ugly.

http://semiaccurate.com/2012/05/24/samsung-rumored-to-exit-graphics-memory-business/

Discuss.

 

[Jaydip]

As long as Hynix doesn't follow Samsung's footsteps we are in no big trouble.

 

[blastingcap]

Could lead to higher GDDR5 prices.

 

[Jaydip]

Maybe Yes.But we will probably see some other vendors taking the vacant place.

 

[blastingcap]

Dunno, memory has been brutal business for a while now, and consolidation may drive up prices by reducing competition. Elpida went bankrupt recently for instance. While we've celebrated lower RAM and SSD prices, manufacturers have not been celebrating.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Rambus.

It is time.

:awe:

 

[Stoneburner]

Rambus.

It is time.

:awe:

Seriously. There's nobody left for them to sue, may as well start actually making stuff again.

 

[OCGuy]

My only question is why did AMD invest so much in ATi if they saw this downfall of the discreet GPU only a decade away?

 

[Lonyo]

My only question is why did AMD invest so much in ATi if they saw this downfall of the discreet GPU only a decade away?

Because they didn't buy ATI for discrete GPUs...

 

[lehtv]

What is Kaveri?

 

[chimaxi83]

What is Kaveri?

28nm AMD APU, sometime next year. Successor to Trinity.

 

[Jaydip]

This is much better than a poor APU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaveri

 

[Dark Shroud]

Intel has their deal with Micron so they'll be fine. Hynix will simply get a bigger slice of the pie.

And maybe now the top tier cards can possibly use XDR2 memory if Rambus ever dislodges their head from their rectum. I would love to use that in a desktop system.

 

[zebrax2]

Why can't AMD or Intel embed 512mb/1gb of GDDR5 in the motherboard similar to what they did with sideport aside from cost?

 

[Pneumothorax]

Why can't AMD or Intel embed 512mb/1gb of GDDR5 in the motherboard similar to what they did with sideport aside from cost?

Cost cost and cost. I'm quite sure a socket 3012 or whatever required to have separate pin outs for VRAM would raise the price of the chip and socket considerably.

Signaling and timing also be an issue with so many traces running at crazy and varying speeds.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Concillian]

My only question is why did AMD invest so much in ATi if they saw this downfall of the discreet GPU only a decade away?

Is this a serious question?

What kind of iGPU would AMD be putting on their APUs if they didn't buy the ATi technology, engineers, etc...?

Right now AMD APUs have better GPU performance than intel integrated GPUs that are using a manufacturing process 1-2 generations ahead of AMD.

The GPU performance is the only thing that has AMD viable in the notebook space. Imagine where they'd be if their GPU performance was as far behind Intel's as their CPU performance is now. The ATi acquisition is the only reason AMD CPUs are not completely dead to the entire consumer market. At least right now they have a decent product for notebook / ultrabook / all-in-ones, which not a small portion of the market.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Use DDR5 as system RAM. Volume problem solved.