In case you’re been contemplating one of many newly launched Nvidia RTX 50 collection graphics playing cards then you definitely’ve little question some throughout GDDR7 reminiscence. Briefly, it is the newest customary of VRAM (or graphics reminiscence) that is constructed for AI, gaming, and GPU-accelerated computing duties.
First introduced by Samsung in 2022 because the successor to GDDR6X VRAM, the earlier customary, manufacturing started in mid-2023 as Micron confirmed off its 1β node (1-beta) DRAM course of node, and it was certified in July of the identical yr that the first-generation of GDDR7 reminiscence can attain 32Gbps (doubling the efficiency from GDDR6X’s 16Gbps) by comparability.
You will presently solely discover GDDR7 VRAM within the Nvidia RTX 50 collection, as the corporate’s greatest graphics playing cards are utilizing the tech to push gaming and AI workloads past that was attainable with the GDDR6X reminiscence of Ada (RTX 40 collection) and Ampere (RTX 30 collection) from 2022 and 2022 respectively. However how does it work? Extra importantly, do you want a graphics card with GDDR7 VRAM in your setup proper now? That is what we’re right here to reply.
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What’s GDDR7?
Graphics Double Information Charge 7 (GDDR7) is the present VRAM customary for graphics playing cards, which is presently solely completely utilized by Nvidia’s RTX 50 collection. It is a kind of synchronous graphics RAM with a excessive bandwidth, permitting for the lightning-fast knowledge transfers demanded by in the present day’s intensive gaming and high-end computing wants.
Whereas it is attainable that AMD might make the most of the know-how for its RDNA 5 GPU technology, that is not essentially assured, particularly as Crew Crimson continues to be utilizing the older (and much slower) GDDR6 VRAM for its newest Radeon RX 9000 collection graphics playing cards (RX 9070 XT and RX 9070) as an alternative. It is a comparable story with Intel’s GPU division, as its newest Battlemage graphics playing cards, such because the wallet-conscious Arc B570 and Arc B580, additionally make the most of GDDR6 as an alternative of GDDR6X and GDDR7.
Nvidia has (historically) been an early adopter of the newest and biggest applied sciences about its graphics card know-how, and it is not stunning to see it because the flag bearer for GDDR7. The newest VRAM customary can also be utilized in AI-powered workstations and non-gaming GPUs quickly.
On the technical aspect of issues, first-generation GDDR7 helps a bandwidth of 32 Gbps per pin with a 2GB chip density and 1.2V DRAM. It options double the utmost density of GDDR6X with 64 Gb (up from 32 Gb) and 266 FGBA packaging. To summarize, it’s miles denser and extra power-efficient than what was beforehand attainable from the final technology, which (theoretically) means decreased thermals and latency as nicely.
How briskly is GDDR7?
Whereas Micron launched a beginning charge of 32 Gbps with a bandwidth of as much as 1.5TB/sec, being 60% increased than with GDDR6 in addition to 50% energy environment friendly, it was Samsung that pushed issues additional. The South Korean firm introduced late final yr that its GDDR7 VRAM was able to attaining speeds of over 40 Gbps, which is 32% sooner than the preliminary introductory charges.
The RTX 5090 makes use of 32GB GDDR7 VRAM, whereas the RTX 5080 employs 16GB GDDR7. The previous is made attainable by utilizing a complete of 16 2GB modules in unison on its 512-bit reminiscence bus, whereas the RTX 5080 makes use of eight 2GB modules collectively. It is a comparable conference for the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 (and anticipated for the 60-class playing cards prone to come).
We will gauge the usable GDDR7 speeds by wanting on the complete bandwidth and speeds noticed in Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs. The RTX 5090 is constructed on the GB202 die with 28 Gbps efficient reminiscence (clocked at 1,750 MHz). Its 512-bit reminiscence bus permits for a complete bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Contemplating GDDR7 might be as quick as 40 Gbps (42.8% sooner), we might see potential Tremendous variants excelling past this charge. Nonetheless, it is extra probably that the cap of what is attainable will (probably) be reserved for subsequent generations, just like the potential RTX 60 collection and past.
That is to say nothing of what might come from a brand new variant of the present reminiscence customary. There was the half step of GDDR6 to GDDR6X with Nvidia, simply as there was with GDDR5 and GDDR5X, one thing that AMD didn’t make the most of. Whether or not Samsung or Micron makes sooner reminiscence modules for the subsequent technology will rely upon the broader adoption of the VRAM customary because the know-how develops.
Is GDDR7 price it?
We have outlined the tech specs of GDDR7 and mentioned its historical past and producer, however this does not account for a lot if the efficiency doesn’t ship. Evaluating the RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 offers a tough account of the generational leap of the 2 VRAM generations, as 32GB GDDR7 at 28 Gbps goes up towards 24GB GDDR6X at 21 Gbps.
Unsurprisingly, the RTX 5090 is noticeably sooner when it comes to gaming, with a median lead of round 22% in gaming and productiveness. That is not the largest bounce, nevertheless it does observe with generational leaps between flagships. Nonetheless, on the entry stage, GDDR7 doesn’t seem to have a lot of an affect on efficiency in fairly the identical approach, similar to might be seen with the efficiency of the RTX 5070.
Whereas the RTX 5070 is a contact sooner than the older and slower RTX 4070 Tremendous, the distinction might be minimal at greatest. Regardless of the previous utilizing 12GB GDDR7 and the latter having 12GB GDDR6X, the variations in gaming solely actually amounted to round a 1-6% lead over the Ada refresh mannequin. That is with the identical 28 Gbps reminiscence velocity and 672GB/sec bandwidth in comparison with 21 Gbps reminiscence velocity and 504GB/sec bandwidth; it did not make a tangible distinction.
As such, GDDR7 can current a powerful lead in efficiency towards equally powered GDDR6X and GDDR6 graphics playing cards, however it’s possible you’ll not see the staggering hole you may anticipate from the tech specs and daring producer claims. Nonetheless, it is vital to keep in mind that that is very a lot a place to begin of a brand new customary, and the hole will get wider because the tech is extra broadly understood, carried out, and innovated upon sooner or later.
How lengthy will GDDR7 be round for?
Contemplating the GDDR7 reminiscence customary was solely launched round a yr in the past after which was solely carried out within the RTX 50 collection from January 2025, it is secure to say that it is going to be round for a few years to come back. We will look again to GDDR6, which was first utilized in 2018 with the RTX 20 collection and the GTX 1660 Ti in early 2019. Which means the earlier VRAM customary goes again so far as seven years and continues to be being utilized in graphics playing cards from Intel (Battlemage) and AMD (RDNA 4) in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Based mostly on this timeline, we estimate that GDDR7 may very well be round and utilized in graphics playing cards all through the remainder of the 2020s and even into the early 2030s until that is outdated by the theoretical GDDR8. Nvidia is probably going to make use of GDDR7 for its subsequent two or three graphics playing cards, nevertheless it’s unknown when (or if) AMD and Intel will make the bounce from GDDR6 to GDDR7 with its decrease value GPUs, because the implementation of Samsung’s reminiscence might see costs rise.
What’s the GDDR7 launch date?
GDDR7 grew to become a normal in March 2024 and was first utilized within Nvidia’s RTX 50 collection graphics playing cards, with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launching first on January 30, 2025 and subsequent playing cards releasing all year long. They’re the one know-how to make the most of the present VRAM reminiscence customary, however that is anticipated to vary within the coming months and years.
Do AMD graphics playing cards use GDDR7?
No, AMD’s graphics playing cards don’t make the most of GDDR7 VRAM. Doubtless a cost-saving measure, Crew Crimson has caught to the older and slower GDDR6 VRAM customary for its present lineup of RDNA 4 graphics playing cards, which arrived in Februrary 2025. The identical is true of Intel, which additionally used GDDR6 for its budget-minded Battlemage GPUs from late 2024.
How briskly is GDDR7 reminiscence?
Initially launched by Micron to be as quick as 32 Gbps, Samsung later introduced that its reminiscence modules have been as quick as 40 Gbps, and that is the present customary based on JEDEC. Nonetheless, no know-how has presently come anyplace shut to those charges when it comes to sequential efficiency. That is anticipated to vary within the coming years.
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