**Nvidia Scraps SOCAMM 1 After Repeated Failures, Shifts Focus to SOCAMM 2**
Nvidia has abandoned its earlier effort to commercialize SOCAMM 1 following repeated technical setbacks, choosing to focus entirely on the development of SOCAMM 2, according to recent reports. The first-generation SOCAMM was intended to be a low-power, high-capacity memory solution for AI servers. However, persistent delays and design challenges prevented it from gaining traction in the market.
An industry insider told ET News (originally in Korean), “Nvidia originally planned to introduce SOCAMM 1 within the year, but technical issues halted the project twice, preventing any actual large-scale orders.”
### A Shift in Performance and Design Goals
This reset levels the playing field for major memory manufacturers Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, all of whom are now working on the second-generation design. SOCAMM 2 retains the detachable module form factor featuring 694 I/O ports but boosts transfer speeds from 8,533 MT/s in the first version to an impressive 9,600 MT/s.
In practical terms, this increase translates to system bandwidth rising from approximately 14.3 TB/s to around 16 TB/s in platforms like Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra GB300 NVL72, which is already regarded highly in data center GPU discussions.
For the time being, Nvidia continues to rely on LPDDR5X memory technology. However, ongoing talks about adopting LPDDR6 indicate that SOCAMM 2 is being designed with long-term scalability in mind.
Despite these performance upgrades, SOCAMM 2 reportedly consumes less power than standard DRAM-based RDIMM modules, a claim that will require validation under real-world server workloads.
### Broader Industry Participation and Production Outlook
Unlike SOCAMM 1, which was manufactured exclusively by Micron—raising concerns about supply stability—SOCAMM 2 sees broader involvement. Samsung and SK Hynix are preparing samples alongside Micron, potentially leading to more stable production and competitive pricing.
Samsung and SK Hynix have indicated that they are “preparing for mass production of SOCAMM in the third quarter.” However, industry estimates suggest that SOCAMM 2 will likely not see volume availability until early next year.
### Toward Industry Standardization?
A key difference between the two SOCAMM generations lies in standardization. SOCAMM 1 was developed outside of JEDEC standards, limiting its use primarily to Nvidia platforms. SOCAMM 2, on the other hand, could attract JEDEC involvement, which would facilitate broader adoption beyond Nvidia’s ecosystem.
If embraced by JEDEC, SOCAMM 2 has the potential to evolve into a new industry-standard format, offering compact, high-bandwidth memory options for a wide range of systems.
This development could have notable implications for creative professionals, especially in fields like video editing where memory performance directly impacts the handling of high-resolution footage and complex workflows. Enhanced memory options might shift perceptions of what constitutes the “best GPU” for such demanding tasks.
### Cautious Optimism Amid Accelerating Memory Innovation
While the future of SOCAMM 2 is promising, analysts urge caution. The timing of its arrival coincides with accelerating advances in LPDDR6 technology, which may affect SOCAMM’s long-term impact and adoption.
As AI semiconductor performance continues to advance rapidly, the demand for faster, more efficient memory solutions to alleviate data bottlenecks is more critical than ever. Whether SOCAMM 2 will emerge as the definitive solution or simply another alternative in an increasingly crowded market depends heavily on execution quality, industry standardization, and the pace at which LPDDR6 is rolled out.
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