Tag: Micron Technology

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Features Micron RAM and Storage

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Features Micron RAM and Storage

    Key Takeaways

    1. Samsung relies on subsidiaries for parts, but sometimes sources components from competitors.
    2. The Galaxy S25 series features RAM and storage supplied by Micron Technology, not Samsung Semiconductor.
    3. Micron provided LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 storage, enhancing AI performance and energy efficiency.
    4. Samsung Mobile acknowledged Micron’s contribution, showcasing collaboration between competing companies.
    5. Samsung’s decision to use Micron’s components was due to overheating issues with its own memory chips in the Galaxy S25.

    Samsung has a lot of subsidiaries, most of which produce parts for mobile devices. People generally expect that the phones will contain the parts made by Samsung. But that’s not always true, as sometimes Samsung must get parts from its competitors. The Galaxy S25 series, which is priced at $799.99 on Amazon, is a great example of this situation since it includes crucial components from other companies.

    Subsidiary Insights

    One of the subsidiaries of Samsung is Samsung Semiconductor, which is responsible for making RAM and storage. However, for the Galaxy S25 series, it didn’t provide the RAM and storage. Instead, these essential components were supplied by Micron Technology, a company that competes with Samsung, and this information was shared by Micron itself.

    Component Details

    In a post on X, Micron announced that it provided the LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 storage for the Galaxy S25 series. They mentioned that these components enhance AI performance and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, they contribute to keeping users’ data safe and secure.

    Samsung Mobile also shared Micron’s post, thanking them for their assistance in enhancing the Galaxy S25 series’s capabilities. This acknowledgment highlights the collaboration between the two companies despite their rivalry.

    Historical Context

    Before Micron and Samsung confirmed this partnership, it was reported in January that Samsung would not use its own memory chips in the Galaxy S25 due to issues with overheating that impacted device performance. It was mentioned that Micron would supply these components for the initial launch of the Galaxy S25 series. Future production runs may include Samsung’s own chips, marking a significant change since previous Galaxy models had always used Samsung’s memory and storage solutions.

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  • Micron to Launch LPDDR5X-Based LPCAMM2 Memory by Mid-2024

    Micron to Launch LPDDR5X-Based LPCAMM2 Memory by Mid-2024

    Micron Technology, Inc. has recently unveiled the LPCAMM2, which is the industry's first standard low-power compression attached memory module. This new memory module is expected to bring enhanced performance, energy efficiency, space savings, and modularity, and will be available in capacities ranging from 16GB to 64GB.

    LPCAMM2 Speed and Production Schedule

    The LPCAMM2 memory module is designed to achieve speeds of up to 9600Mbps, which is significantly higher than the 5600Mbps offered by current DDR5 SODIMMs. Micron plans to start production of the LPCAMM2 by the first half of 2024, positioning it as the first disruptive form factor for client PCs since the introduction of SODIMMs in 1997.

    Improved Performance and Power Efficiency

    Micron's LPCAMM2 integrates LPDDR5X DRAM, which provides up to 71% better performance and up to 61% lower power consumption for essential workloads like web browsing and video conferencing. Additionally, it offers a remarkable 64% space savings compared to SODIMM offerings. With the growing prevalence of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) on client PCs, the LPCAMM2 is designed to meet the performance demands of AI workloads while maintaining low power consumption.

    Transformative Nature and Benefits

    Praveen Vaidyanathan, Vice President and General Manager of Micron's Compute Products Group, highlights the transformative nature of the LPCAMM2. He states that this new memory module will deliver best-in-class performance per watt in a flexible, modular form factor. It is expected to enhance the capabilities of AI-enabled laptops and allow for memory capacity upgrades as technology and user needs evolve.

    Collaboration and Departure from Current Form Factors

    The development of the LPCAMM2 involved collaboration with key client PC OEMs and ecosystem enablers. This memory solution represents a significant departure from current memory module form factors. It offers higher performance with LPDDR5X, achieving speeds of up to 9600Mbps. Additionally, it reduces system standby power by 80% for improved battery life and provides benefits in digital content creation and productivity workloads.

    Modularity and Serviceability

    The LPCAMM2 boasts modularity, enabling critical serviceability functionality for enterprise IT users and administrators. It features a single PCB for all module capacities, providing supply chain flexibility for OEM and ODM customers. Compared to SODIMMs, LPCAMM2 simplifies motherboard routing complexity.

    Crucial LPCAMM2 Retail Products

    Crucial, a brand owned by Micron, will make LPCAMM2 retail products available. This means that laptop users, including gamers and content creators, will be able to upgrade their system memory configuration. This marks an industry first for low-power memory. The Crucial LPCAMM2 products are expected to be available in the first half of 2024.

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  • Chinese Chipmaker YMTC Sues Micron for Patent Infringement amid Rising US-China Tensions

    Chinese Chipmaker YMTC Sues Micron for Patent Infringement amid Rising US-China Tensions

    YMTC Initiates Legal Action Against Micron for Alleged Patent Infringement

    Yangtze Memory Technologies Co (YMTC), a Chinese flash memory manufacturer, has taken legal steps against Micron Technology, accusing the U.S. chip giant of violating eight of its patents. This legal move was initiated on November 9th at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. According to YMTC, Micron and its affiliate have been leveraging YMTC’s patented innovations to bolster and safeguard their market presence without offering equitable compensation.

    Micron, a notable contender in DRAM and NAND flash memory chip production, competes with industry stalwarts like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Kioxia. Nevertheless, this lawsuit surfaces amidst U.S. government restrictions on chipmaking technology exports to China, citing security apprehensions.

    YMTC asserts that Micron’s conduct has impeded fair competition and stymied its advancements, labeling them as "freeriding" tactics. The legal recourse is a rebuttal to escalating U.S. sanctions on exporting advanced semiconductor tools and services to China, affecting YMTC’s capacity to procure specific American components.

    Despite enduring challenges like U.S. blacklisting and Beijing cybersecurity reviews, YMTC has displayed resilience. The firm has pivoted by fortifying relationships with domestic suppliers such as Naura with the goal of substituting U.S. components in its manufacturing chain. This resolute stance is particularly significant, given the withdrawal of personnel from YMTC by entities like Lam Research and KLA Corp post its addition to the U.S. Entity List.

    In the lawsuit, YMTC underscores its technological acumen, claiming to have developed the "world’s most advanced" 3D NAND memory chip for consumer devices. Positioned as a pivotal player in the global 3D NAND arena, YMTC perceives the lawsuit as a shield for its intellectual property against Micron’s purported hindrances to its progress.

    In the realm of market dynamics, YMTC emerges as China’s response to global NAND memory chip manufacturers. Last August, the company introduced its inaugural 232-layer 3D NAND chip, showcasing its dedication to innovation. U.S.-imposed trade constraints have spurred Chinese enterprises, including YMTC, to fortify links within the semiconductor supply chain and reduce dependence on American technologies.

    Financially bolstered, YMTC received a substantial $7 billion infusion in March from state-affiliated investors, including the "Big Fund." This financial injection aimed at empowering YMTC to sustain NAND memory chip production sans relying on American suppliers, accentuating strategic backing from the Chinese government.

    Market share predictions illustrate a projected decline in YMTC’s global share in the NAND sector to 5.7% this year from 6% in 2022. Similarly, Micron’s share is anticipated to dip to 10.9% from 11.3%. These forecasts mirror the hurdles both firms confront amid geopolitical strains and shifting market dynamics.

    Micron has refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal dispute. Nevertheless, the legal clash between YMTC and Micron adds another layer to the perpetual saga within the semiconductor industry, characterized by global rivalry, technological progressions, and geopolitical complexities.

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