Samsung Electronics' (005930.KS) sixth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM) chip, the HBM4, has recorded the highest operating speed in technical testing conducted by Broadcom. The company has solidified its technological lead by outperforming rivals in performance validation for Google's eighth-generation artificial intelligence accelerator (TPU v8), set for release next year. Samsung Electronics is expected to accelerate its push to expand market share in the HBM sector based on this achievement.
According to semiconductor industry sources on the 30th, Samsung Electronics' HBM4 achieved operating speeds in the low-to-mid 11Gbps (gigabits per second) range in ongoing system-in-package (SiP) testing with U.S. fabless company Broadcom. This is the highest among the three major memory manufacturers. Samsung also reportedly received high marks for heat dissipation control, a persistent challenge in HBM technology, compared to competitors.
SiP testing is a process that combines HBM and logic chips into a single package to verify performance in actual operating conditions. It serves as the final examination before mounting HBM onto AI chips. Broadcom is a key partner leading the design of Google's custom AI semiconductors (ASICs). These evaluation results demonstrate that Samsung Electronics' HBM4 delivers top performance as the core memory for Google's eighth-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), scheduled for commercialization next year.
Samsung Electronics and Broadcom have collaborated on high-performance memory and AI chips since 2023, and this HBM4 test result is expected to further strengthen the partnership between the two companies. As Google plans to sell its TPU externally—previously deployed only in its own data centers—Samsung Electronics' HBM supply volume is projected to surge next year.
"Samsung Electronics recording the highest speed in Broadcom's SiP test signifies that its integrated solution capabilities spanning foundry and packaging have entered full stride," an industry official said. "This evaluation result puts the company in an advantageous position for volume allocation to Google next year."
