SK hynix Inc. (or “the company”, www.skhynix.com) has developed its first DDR5 DRAM-based CXL (Compute Express Link) memory samples and strengthened its presence in next-generation memory solutions market. The form factor of the sample is EDSFF (Enterprise & Data Center Standard Form Factor) E3.S and it supports PCIe 5.0 x8 Lane, uses DDR5 standard DRAM and is equipped with CXL controllers.

CXL¹⁾, which is based on PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)²⁾, is a new standardized interface that helps increase the efficiency of utilizing CPUs, GPUs, accelerators, and memory. SK hynix has participated in the CXL consortium from an early stage, and is looking to secure CXL memory market leadership.

¹⁾ CXL (Compute Express Link): Next-generation interface to utilize high performance computing system efficiently

²⁾ PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express): Serial-structured high-speed input/output interface used in the main boards of digital devices.

Expandable CXL Memory to Begin Mass Production in 2023

The essential point of the CXL memory market is expandability. The CXL memory allows for flexible memory expansion compared to current server market, where the memory capacity and performance are fixed once the server platform is adopted. CXL also has high growth potential as it is an interface spotlighted for high performance computing systems such as AI and big data related applications.

The first CXL memory device developed by SK hynix is a 96GB product composed of 24Gb DDR5 DRAMs based on 1anm, which is the latest tech node. The company expects high customer satisfaction of this product with flexible configuration of bandwidth and capacity expanded cost-efficiently.

“I see CXL as a new opportunity to expand memory and create a new market,” said Uksong Kang, Head of DRAM Product Planning explaining SK hynix’s CXL memory deployment strategy. “We aim to mass-produce CXL memory products by 2023, and will continue to develop cutting-edge DRAM technologies and advanced packaging technologies to launch various CXL-based bandwidth/capacity expandable memory solution products.”

Various Collaboration Plans to Expand the CXL Memory Ecosystem

“Dell has been at the forefront of developing the CXL and EDSFF ecosystems, driving technology standards through the CXL and SNIA consortiums, and working closely with our partners on CXL product requirements to meet future workload demands. The SK hynix EDSFF E3.S form factor CXL memory module is an example of the innovative products that customers will be able to deploy to meet their growing memory needs,” said Stuart Berke, Vice President and Fellow at Dell’s Infrastructure Solutions Group.

Dr. Debendra Das Sharma, Intel Senior Fellow and co-GM of Memory and I/O Technologies at Intel added, “CXL plays an essential role in extending memory for data center systems to evolve. We look forward to building and expanding the CXL memory ecosystem, as well as quickly developing technology standards through the CXL consortium, by collaborating with partners like SK hynix.”

“AMD is excited about the possibilities of workload performance acceleration with memory expansion using CXL technology. We look forward to collaborating with SK hynix on the development and validation of CXL as the industry shifts to a more dynamic and flexible memory infrastructure,” said Raghu Nambiar, Corporate Vice President of Data Center Ecosystems and Solutions at AMD.

“CXL is a key technology that will be critical in optimizing memory systems in the future, and we are actively working with SK hynix in CXL memory design and verification to promote the rapid development of the CXL memory ecosystem,” said Christopher Cox, Vice President of Technology at Montage Technologies.

Securing Technology Accessibility by Developing HMSDK dedicated to CXL Memory

SK hynix also developed the Heterogeneous Memory Software Development Kit (HMSDK)³⁾ exclusively for CXL memory devices. The kit will include features to improve system performance and monitor the systems while running various workloads. The company plans to distribute it as an open source in the fourth quarter of 2022. It is expected that end users such as software developers will be able to utilize SK hynix’s CXL memory more effectively.

³⁾ HMSDK (Heterogeneous Memory Software Development Kit): A software development kit that allows different grades of memory to be operated in one system

 The company prepared a separate sample for evaluation to help customers evaluate it with ease. As there is currently no server which supports EDSFF E3.S x8 Lane, SK hynix replaced the dedicated samples’ EDSFF pins with PCIe to support customers install the samples to existing PCIe slots.

SK hynix is planning to exhibit the product in upcoming events, beginning with Flash Memory Summit in early August, Intel Innovation at the end of September and Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit in October, while scheduling to demonstrate a demo with HMSDK as well. The company will actively deploy CXL memory related business to provide customers with the memory products they need in a timely manner.

The post SK hynix Develops DDR5 DRAM CXL^TM Memory to Expand the CXL Memory Ecosystem first appeared on SK hynix Newsroom.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• SK hynix and Solidigm unveil their first technology and product collaboration, which combines SK hynix’s 128-layer NAND Flash with Solidigm’s SSD controller and firmware expertise.
• Together, SK hynix and Solidigm will continue to optimize both companies’ operations to create synergies and partnership.
• Additionally, the collaboration between SK hynix and Solidigm reflects their commitments to strengthening their investments in US R&D, as part of SK hynix’s “Inside America Strategy.”

San Jose, California, April 4th, 2022, and Seoul, South Korea April 5th, 2022

Today SK hynix and Solidigm jointly introduced their first collaborative product, a new enterprise solid-state drive (eSSD), P5530. This limited release product highlights the emerging partnership between SK hynix and Solidigm, which formed three months ago when SK hynix acquired Intel’s NAND and SSD business.

The P5530 combines SK hynix’s 128-layer 4D NAND flash with Solidigm’s SSD controller^* and firmware supporting a PCIe^* Gen 4 interface. The product is offered in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacity options. SK hynix and Solidigm worked together to optimize performance with specific data center use cases and targeted deployments in mind.

Since the launch of Solidigm, the companies have partnered to forge a forward-moving strategy and co-develop products while reinforcing common values across the companies. Through the ongoing partnership and collaboration with Solidigm, SK hynix expects to enhance its NAND flash business competitiveness to the same extent as its DRAM business.

“With in-time demonstration of the collaborative product based on the combined competence of SK hynix and Solidigm, we aim to not only enhance our NAND flash business competitiveness but also speed up our “Inside America” strategy,” said Kevin (Jongwon) Noh, President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at SK hynix. “SK hynix and Solidigm will continue to partner in order to optimize both companies’ operations to create greater synergies.”

“In our early days of Solidigm, we’re pleased to be forming a strong collaboration with SK hynix. Together, we’re united in optimizing our products to provide unparalleled solutions for our customers. The P5530 is just the first example of what will come from our industry-defining partnership as we solidify our leadership across the NAND industry and create a new paradigm for solid state storage,” said Rob Crooke, Chief Executive Officer at Solidigm.

About SK hynix Inc.

SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world’s top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (“DRAM”), Flash memory chips (“NAND Flash”), and CMOS Image Sensors (“CIS”) for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company’s shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

About Solidigm

Solidigm is a leading global provider of innovative NAND flash memory solutions. Solidigm technology unlocks data’s unlimited potential for customers, enabling them to fuel human advancement. Our origins reflect Intel’s longstanding innovation in memory products and SK hynix’s international leadership and scale in the semiconductor industry. Solidigm became a standalone U.S. subsidiary under SK hynix in December 2021. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Solidigm is powered by the inventiveness of more than 2,000 employees in 20 locations worldwide. For more information about Solidigm, please visit https://www.solidigm.com and follow us on Twitter at @Solidigm and on LinkedIn.

Media Contact

SK hynix Inc.
Global Public Relations

Technical Leader
Jaehwan Kevin Kim
E-Mail: global_newsroom@skhynix.com

Technical Leader
Kanga Kong
E-Mail: global_newsroom@skhynix.com

Solidigm
Corporate Affairs

Rhonda Foxx
press@solidigmtechnology.com

Catherine Roberts
press@solidigmtechnology.com

The post SK hynix and Solidigm Introduce First Collaborative Product first appeared on SK hynix Newsroom.