Intel Server CPU 'Sapphire Rapids'
10nm-Class 4th Gen DDR5 DRAM Certification Obtained
"Overcoming Market Challenges by Expanding Server Memory Opportunities"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] SK Hynix has received certification for the latest server-grade Double Data Rate 5 (DDR5) DRAM to be used in Intel’s newly launched server central processing unit (CPU), 'Sapphire Rapids.' SK Hynix plans to overcome the semiconductor market downturn by supplying various server DRAM products tailored to market demand in the next-generation DDR5 market.
Expanding Server DRAM Opportunities with DDR5 Intel Certification
On the 12th, SK Hynix announced that its 10-nanometer-class 4th generation (1a) DDR5 server DRAM has been certified for use with Intel’s 4th generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processor (code-named: Sapphire Rapids).
Sapphire Rapids is a server CPU launched by Intel on the 10th (local time). It is the first Intel server CPU model to support the latest DRAM standard, DDR5. SK Hynix possesses DDR5 technology that reduces power consumption by 20% and increases performance by 70% compared to the previous generation DDR4.
The 10-nanometer-class 4th generation (1a) DDR5 server DRAM certified by SK Hynix is manufactured using the cutting-edge extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process. SK Hynix is the first to receive Intel certification for 10-nanometer-class 4th generation DRAM. SK Hynix explained, “Receiving the latest processor compatibility certification from Intel for DDR5 is a monumental achievement.”
During the DDR5 certification process, SK Hynix also obtained certification for 10-nanometer-class 2nd generation (1y) DDR5 products. Moving forward, they plan to offer various DDR5 products such as 16-gigabit (Gb) and 24Gb to customers and expand sales of server DRAM.
Ryu Seong-su, Vice President and Head of DRAM Product Planning at SK Hynix, said, “We are closely collaborating to supply DDR5 to multiple customers in line with the launch of Intel’s Sapphire Rapids,” adding, “We will solidify our leadership in the server memory market, which is expected to continue growing.”
Sapphire Rapids Supporting DDR5: The Key to Market Recovery
Server DRAM is memory semiconductor combined with CPUs and used in data centers. Until now, the main server DRAM products have been based on DDR4, but the launch of Sapphire Rapids signals a generational shift to DDR5.
The global memory semiconductor industry has identified Sapphire Rapids as the key to market recovery amid the downturn and has been eagerly awaiting its release. Intel holds the majority market share in the server CPU market, and when a new server CPU is launched, data center customers replace their existing servers, generating new memory demand.
Dimitrios Giakas, Vice President of Intel’s Memory I/O Technology Division, said, “We closely collaborated with SK Hynix and the JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) to optimize DDR5 for Intel’s latest CPUs,” adding, “Sapphire Rapids combined with DDR5 will dramatically enhance data center server performance.”
Meanwhile, SK Hynix collaborated with Intel to publish a ‘DDR5 White Paper,’ which contains information on DDR5 performance and features operating on Sapphire Rapids. SK Hynix expects this document to serve as a reference for server customers considering DDR5 adoption in the future.
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