Jensen Huang: "Samsung HBM Certification Process Underway... Never Failed a Test" (Comprehensive)

SK Hynix, Micron, and Samsung Electronics HBM Supply
"All Three Are Excellent Partners"
"Samsung HBM Requires More Engineering"

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, stated on the 4th at a media Q&A held at the Grand Hi-Lai Taipei in Taipei, Taiwan, that Samsung Electronics' high-bandwidth memory (HBM) has never failed the qualification test (qual test) and is currently undergoing the certification process.

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

At the start of the media Q&A, Huang was asked about the possibility of Samsung Electronics supplying HBM. He emphasized, "We receive HBM supplies from three companies: SK Hynix, Micron, and Samsung Electronics, all of whom are excellent memory supply partners."

He continued, "The AI chip lineup that NVIDIA currently holds requires significant speed, and HBM is a very important component for us," adding, "NVIDIA is working to ensure that all three suppliers are qualified and can adapt to our manufacturing system as quickly as possible."

When asked again near the end of the media Q&A about Samsung Electronics' qual test, he stated, "Samsung Electronics has not yet failed any certification tests, but Samsung's HBM products require more engineering work."

Earlier, major U.S. media outlets reported on the 24th of last month that Samsung Electronics' 12-stack 36GB HBM3E product failed NVIDIA's qual test due to heat generation and power consumption issues. In response, Samsung Electronics immediately issued a statement explaining, "We are currently working closely with multiple companies and continuously testing technology and performance," and "We conduct various tests to thoroughly verify the quality and performance of HBM." Huang's explanation supports Samsung Electronics' statement, and it seems the rumors regarding the qual test will be settled for now. Attention is now focused on whether Samsung Electronics' HBM3E will pass the upcoming qual test procedures and be finally approved for supply.