GDDR6 Going to AI and Machine Learning

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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Just when we were all hoping to get excited about GPU prices coming down on future generations, we find there may more impediments to that. Given that there are huge inventories in the market, and generally no competition at the ultra-high end, now we get to find out that GDDR6 is going to be wanted more by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning needs. Oh yeah, and everyone's favorite cryptocurrency. Now let's see if Micron, Hynix, and Samsung can ramp up production enough to satisfy all the markets while not leaving all of us gamers looking at slower framerates.

In fact, applications such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which need ultra-fast memories, have shorted gamers of their GDDR supply, so it’s probably a good idea that makers of the technology are ramping up delivery.
 
I'm more worried about the next gen consoles.

They tend to set par for graphics. But if GDDR6 is scarce and expensive, they could wind up underpowered (again).
 
I'm more worried about the next gen consoles.

They tend to set par for graphics. But if GDDR6 is scarce and expensive, they could wind up underpowered (again).
When the next consoles debut, that cost is always subsidized from the game exclusives.
Consoles are made and sold at a loss at first.
 
Honestly, this sounds like they are setting up the market for a constrained supply from the get go. How did the ram industry get to this point, it use to be so cheap.
 
Decima Technologies drones have created the next generation of memory to arm Samaritan in its coming war with the Machine.
 
Honestly, this sounds like they are setting up the market for a constrained supply from the get go. How did the ram industry get to this point, it use to be so cheap.
Well, oversupply caused most (if not all) memory manufacturers to operate at a loss. Since most companies can't survive in such an environment for an extended period of time, the failing companies are bought for pennies on the dollar by companies that were able to outlast the losses which led to the current environment of a three company oligopoly (representing 95%+ of the DRAM market). Now that the industry is "disciplined" and not overbuilding capacity (partly by choice, partly due to the skyrocketing cost to increase bit capacity due to diminishing returns of node shrinks which will soon hit a wall), capacity growth is only meeting demand growth, *but* this is after a huge explosion in demand the past few years from cloud and datacenter infrastructure, AI, AV, DL, IoT and, of course, crypto mining, all of which is responsible for the doubling of DRAM prices the past two years. Before that, demand was driven by mobile devices, which are currently not growing and even slumping.

Don't expect DRAM prices to drop anytime soon. DRAM manufacturers will move more capacity to GDDR6 from less profitable lines (sorry, PC DRAM consumers, not looking good for you) but since GDDR6 is the new hotness and running on the latest nodes, it will take time for that to occur.
 
When the next consoles debut, that cost is always subsidized from the game exclusives.
Consoles are made and sold at a loss at first.

Not anymore. PS4 and XboxOne were sold at break even prices I believe. Nintendo has always sold their systems at a profit as well I believe.
 
When the next consoles debut, that cost is always subsidized from the game exclusives.
Consoles are made and sold at a loss at first.
They haven't been sold at a loss this gen. Nintendo never sold a console at a loss.
 
not that they will do so, but would be nice if they made new lines for GDDR6/DDR5 to keep the ones that are using GDDR5/DDR4 "untouched" so that those that require the fastest memory can have it (at a higher price) and those that require the "slower" memory can also have it (at a reduced price)

there are only so many wafers/chips to go around, I know them makers all want $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
otherwise how can they make new multi billion or tens of billion $ fabs, dont you know they are starving to make this happen LMFAO.

more seriously, while having speed is awesome or having the "latest and might be greatest" is also nice,
having to remove body parts and get ulcers from waiting really sucks ass.

Likely they will use this as an excuse to ensure pricing is as high as they can possibly make it because
"GDDR6 and DDR5 have constrained production of GDDR5 and DDR4 beyond capacity, so everyone suffers"
(but us, because we make $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$).

Will be interesting to see, but likely that will be the road they take, shut down as much production for previous gen to replace it with that much higher cost next gen.
 
Nah. Collude to constrain supply, make mega profit, get investigated and fined for 1/5 of the money made, and repeat. :p
Libelous; have any proof? Hint: past acts by former employees 10+ years ago are not proof of current wrongdoing. I wonder what's taking China so long with their investigation if the collusion is so obvious you know about it? Please, educate us.
 
Honestly, this sounds like they are setting up the market for a constrained supply from the get go. How did the ram industry get to this point, it use to be so cheap.

It had its run on good pricing. But back in the late 90's it was super expensive too. I remember paying close to $200 dollars for 512mb of SDRAM. $160 bucks is pretty good for a 16GB Set of DDR4 considering a price / performance ratio.
 
Libelous; have any proof? Hint: past acts by former employees 10+ years ago are not proof of current wrongdoing. I wonder what's taking China so long with their investigation if the collusion is so obvious you know about it? Please, educate us.

It was a joke, settle down.
 
You have not been following the same RAM Industry that we've been following for the last 30 years if you think that.
I agree. I'm far less experienced with the older tech and even I still remember how expensive generic EDO RAM or RDRAM was during their heydays, and that they stayed expensive even when outdated. Comparatively today's 2x8GB kits of DDR4-3200 are light on the wallet unless you go stupid with a halo product.
 
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