SK hynix announced today that it has developed PIM, a next-generation memory chip with computing capabilities. PIM(Processing In Memory): A next-generation technology that provides a solution for data congestion issues for AI and big data by adding computational functions to semiconductor memory. SK hynix plans to showcase its PIM development at the world’s most prestigious semiconductor conference, 2022 ISSCC, in San Francisco at the end of this month.
For the first product that adopts the PIM technology, SK hynix has developed a sample of GDDR6-AiM (Accelerator in memory). The GDDR6-AiM adds computational functions to GDDR6 memory chips, which process data at 16Gbps. A combination of GDDR6-AiM with CPU or GPU instead of a typical DRAM makes certain computation speed 16 times faster. GDDR6-AiM is widely expected to be adopted for machine learning, high-performance computing, and big data computation and storage.
GDDR6-AiM runs on 1.25V, lower than the existing product’s operating voltage of 1.35V. In addition, the PIM reduces data movement to the CPU and GPU, reducing power consumption by 80%. This, accordingly, helps SK hynix meet its commitment to ESG management by reducing carbon emissions of the devices that adopt this product. SK hynix plans to introduce a technology that combines GDDR6-AiM with AI chips in collaboration with SAPEON., an AI chip company that recently spun off from SK Telecom.
