Samsung Electronics has confirmed that their 2nd-generation 8-gigabyte (GB) Samsung High Bandwidth Memory-2 (HBM2) has gone into production. It boasts of the fastest data transmission speed to date. This new HBM2, named Aquabolt™, will be the first HBM2 capable of delivering a data transfer speed of 2.4 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) per pin at 1.2 Volt. The scale of improvement can easily be realized if we compare it with the 1st-generation 8GB HBM2 package of Samsung that had 1.6Gbps pin speed at 1.2V and 2.0Gbps pin speed at 1.35V.
The 8GB HBM2 package can deliver 307 Gbps data bandwidth. It offers 9.6 times faster data transmission than an 8 gigabit (Gb) GDDR5 chip. The GDDR5 chip delivers a mere 32 GBP data bandwidth. The implementation of 4 of the new HBM2 packages in a system will ensure a 1.2 terabytes-per-second (TBps) bandwidth, bettered by 50% than a system using 1.6Gbps HBM2.
Samsung has utilized the latest TSV design and thermal control technology in preparing the new Aquabolt. One 8GB HBM2 package contains eight 8Gb Samsung High Bandwidth Memory-2 dies, interconnected vertically using more than 5,000 TSVs per die. Using so many TSVs can result in collateral clock skew. Samsung has successfully minimized the skew to a very minimal level while enhancing the chip performance significantly.

Samsung has smartly increased the number of thermal bumps between the HBM2 dies. In spite of being a very simple modification, it provides stronger thermal control in each package. There is also an additional protective layer at the bottom of the HBM2 to increase the package’s overall physical strength.
With our production of the first 2.4Gbps 8GB HBM2, we are further strengthening our technology leadership and market competitiveness. We will continue to reinforce our command of the DRAM market by assuring a stable supply of HBM2 worldwide, in accordance with the timing of anticipated next-generation system launches by our customers. – Jaesoo Han, Executive Vice President, Memory Sales & Marketing team at Samsung Electronics
Samsung has promised to supply the Aquabolt to its global IT customers at a stable pace. This advanced technology, with its massive speed is expected to revolutionize the supercomputing, artificial intelligence and graphics processing fields.