Samsung Launches LPDDR5-Ultra-Pro DRAM at 12.7GT/s

At the recent International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), Samsung introduced an expansion of the LPDDR5 standard, pushing data transfer rates to a groundbreaking 12,700MT/s (12.7GT/s). To achieve this remarkable speed, Samsung incorporated a four-phase self-calibration loop and AC-coupled transmitter-receiver equalization in its DRAM chips, branded as LPDDR5-Ultra-Pro DRAM.

The new LPDDR5-Ultra-Pro memory boasts a data transfer rate of 12,700MT/s and is a 16Gb memory IC, fabricated using Samsung's fifth-generation 10nm-class DRAM technology. This memory operates at the industry-standard voltage of 1.05V.

First introduced in 2019, the LPDDR5 standard aimed to expand data transfer rates to 6,400MT/s. By 2021, JEDEC released an enhanced version, LPDDR5X, increasing speeds to 8,533MT/s. However, as demand for higher speeds grew, major companies like Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix ramped up efforts. In 2023, LPDDR5X speeds reached 9,600MT/s, with Samsung pushing the boundaries further in 2024 to 10,700MT/s (yet to ship). Now, Samsung has taken another leap forward, unveiling LPDDR5-Ultra-Pro DRAM with an impressive transfer rate of 12,700MT/s.

Achieving such extreme speeds requires advanced techniques, including the four-phase self-calibration loop and AC-coupled equalization for the transmitter-receiver. These two functions, which were not part of the LPDDR5X specification, represent vendor-specific circuit-level design innovations aimed at meeting or exceeding JEDEC's LPDDR5X data rate and power requirements.

According to Samsung's measurements, the LPDDR5-Ultra-Pro DRAM reliably operates at 12,700MT/s at 1.05V. Even at the 10,700MT/s speed, the memory maintains stability above 0.9V. The read and write margins at peak speed are 0.71 and 0.68 unit intervals, respectively, showcasing strong signal integrity. These results validate the effectiveness of Samsung's calibration and equalization technologies, ensuring performance at the highest levels.