Samsung debuts new mobile DRAM, touts PC-like performance
Summary: Company says the new 4GB LPDDR3 chip is an industry first using 20-nanometer processes, and offers more than double the performance of the previous standard in terms of data transmission.
Samsung on Tuesday released its new 20-nanometer (nm) class mobile DRAM, which it says is the industry's first and offers PC-like performance for multimedia-intensive features on high-end smartphones and tablet devices.
In a statement issued today, the South Korean electronics manufacturer announced its 4-gigabit (GB) LPDDR3 (low power double data rate 3) mobile DRAM, which will be manufactured based on the 20nm process, as it looks to keep ahead of the industry competition.
The company said the new memory chip has performance levels comparable to the standard DRAM used PCs, and it is an "attractive solution" for demanding multimedia functionalities on today's top-tier mobile devices.
For instance, the chip can transmit data at up to 2,133 megabits per second (Mbps) per pin, which is more than double the performance of the preceding LPDDR2 standard of 800 Mbps. In practical terms, Samsung said it is now possible to transmit three full high-definition (HD) videos totaling 17GBs in length in a second using the chip embedded in a mobile device.
Jun Young-Hyun, executive vice president of memory sales & marketing at Samsung Electronics, said in the statement: "By providing the most efficient next-generation mobile memory with a very large data capacity, we are now enabling OEMs (original equipment makers) to introduce even more innovative designs in the marketplace."
The company added it plans to increase production of its 20nm-class mobile DRAM later this year.
Last week, it was reported that Samsung is having problems producing enough mobile DRAM for both its devices as well as for other OEMs due to overwhelming demand for smartphones globally. Shin Jong Kyun, head of Samsung's mobile business, reported said the company faces the possibility of having to buy DRAM chips from its rival SK Hynix in order to keep up.
It also announced last week it generated operating profit of 8.78 trillion won (US$7.9 billion) for its first quarter earnings report. Its IT & Mobile Communications (IM) Division, in particular, contributed more than half of the total revenues in the quarter with 32.82 trillion won (US$29.5 billion) as consumers lapped up its Galaxy S3 and Note 2 devices.
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
copycats
copycats
Samsung doesn't need any company for innovation
Samsung never needed Apple, but Apple always needed Samsung or Apple will never would have been able to launch the iphone with the components offered by other manufacturers at that time.
The smartphone technology was going to happen any way, but the first one to put all the parts together at the right price/performance will be the winner, and that was apple.
Apple does not build the key components of the iphone, so it will be interesting to see how they will innovate without Samsung components. Apple haven't have much luck with other companies trying to build quality components that could match that of Samsung.
And yes, after 30 years of being an Apple fan, I turn to Samsung Note 2's and never look back because Apple screwed all it's fans by not innovating and just cashing in money with the same stuff over and over again. For 30 years, I was an Apple fan not an Apple stupid like I began to feel after the iphone 4s and others were released.
Liars
Samsung just has a bunch of idiots standing around in giant factories waiting for Apple to come in and tell the workers what to do.
Re: Liars
Samsung needs Apple
Apple can just turn the cash fire hose toward another company and build that company into a big manufacturer, leaving Samsung with their heads spinning. That's the advantage of designing your own chips. You can take the manufacturing anywhere you want. It doesn't matter who you hire to fab the parts or assemble the product. There are a lot of fab companies who would build a half a dozen more factories to have Apple's business.
Not so fast?