Samsung Electronics is getting closer to securing approval to supply its high-bandwidth memory HBM3E AI chips to NVIDIA. According to industry sources, the company recently achieved strong scores in a key evaluation. That makes it likely to pass the final qualification process by late May or early June.
Samsung is now closer than ever to supplying HBM3E chips to NVIDIA
A source familiar with the Samsung-NVIDIA deal told Alpha Economy (via Jukanlosreve), โI understand that the redesigned HBM from Samsung Electronics DS recently received high scores in the post-processing due diligence for HBM, which underwent a design change.โ The source also said, โWe are simultaneously pushing forward with quality tests with multiple suppliers, including NVIDIA,โ suggesting that approval is now within reach. (Quotes translated from Korean via Google Translate)
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang delivering the keynote during CES 2025. Credits: Nvidia
Samsung has been working for months to meet NVIDIAโs requirements. In September last year, NVIDIA inspected Samsungโs Pyeongtaek facility to check its 8-layer and 12-layer HBM3E stacks. While expectations were high, approval was delayed due to power inefficiencies. Samsung has since made design changes to fix heat-related issues.
In a recent effort to speed up the process, Samsungโs Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun visited NVIDIAโs headquarters with improved HBM3E samples and met with top executives. This move shows how serious Samsung is about securing Nvidia as a customer, especially as it competes with SK Hynix and Micron in the growing HBM market.
During its earnings call, Samsung admitted that HBM3E commercialization had been delayed but noted that it had โcompleted important stages in the qualification process with major customers and secured meaningful progress.โ Industry experts, as quoted by the publication, believe Samsung is now on track for mass production in the first half of 2025, with final approvals expected in Q2.
Samsungโs stock closed at 57,600 KRW today, which is 5.30% one-day-return. This shows that investors have become more helpful about a deal with NVIDIA. With Nvidiaโs GTC 2025 event coming up, everyone is watching closely to see if Samsung will officially secure its place as an HBM3E supplier.
