AMD thinking of HBM RAM on CPU?

[CoolaxGaming]

Hmm, dont know what anyone hasent caught it yet.

 

So, I was going about my normal day, looking at AMD blogs, pr and stuff. But then when looking at an image something caught my eye.

Well try and see if you can find it also - 

 

 

CPU USING HBM RAM???

 

Yeah, the chip says - CPU/GPU.

CPU surrounded by HBM memory stacks?

 

So here is what I can think of this in most likely order - 

1. AMD is gonna integrate HBM memory inside their APU's for faster performance

2. AMD is gonna replace DDRx with HBMx

 

 

LinusTech, on 26 May 2015 - 8:34 PM, said:
Maybe a new cache level?

 

 

So what do you think of this?

Are we going to have CPU + GPU + HBM RAM = AMD APU?

It could allow for higher access speeds and such

[AlwaysFSX]

Yeah let's create that standard. Okay then AMD.

[LinusTech]

Maybe a new cache level?

[thekeemo]

maybe hbm ram modules

[CoolaxGaming]

Maybe a new cache level?

That would be an interesting addition.

But I dont think how that will actually help cpu performance.

[Glenwing]

Yeah let's create that standard. Okay then AMD.

I doubt they will replace DDR with some kind of AMD-only memory sticks with HBM. Like Linus said it will most likely be used in a similar way to another cache level, shared between the CPU and onboard GPU.

[Glenwing]

That would be an interesting addition.

But I dont think how that will actually help cpu performance.

It will help APU graphics performance, and power efficiency.

[-rascal-]

I could see this being used on APU's, though.

 

 

It will help APU graphics performance.

 

Damn, beat me to it.

[CoolaxGaming]

It will help APU graphics performance.

Good point!

[ozziestig]

Hopefully this will help AMD get back into the market.

[CoolaxGaming]

Yeah let's create that standard. Okay then AMD.

I mean, this is their last throw of the dice.

They either make it or they dont

[incarnate]

my guess is either something akin to ESRAM ala xbox one or maybe a new cache level. however, with amd trying to push hsa/huma it could be the dram being located on the package... which would definitely open the flood gates for the apu's gpu performance. the a10-7850k gpu is limited by memory bandwidth now. the only downside to moving dram onto the cpu package is that you can't upgrade it. you're stuck with the amount of ram amd decides to give you.

 

actual system performance wouldn't really go up in most cases with the ram on the cpu however hsa/huma could scale differently. it is definitely interesting news to say the least.

[CoolaxGaming]

I could see this being used on APU's, though.

 

 

 

Damn, beat me to it.

Yeah maybe 1GB of HBM for main assests and like the other for assests can go on dram?

[incarnate]

actually, the more i mull this over in my mind the more i believe that this is for a mobile/laptop solution. HBM is more energy efficient, couple that with power savings by moving it closer to the cpu/gpu. it makes sense for a mobile platform with non-upgradable ram, and makes sense for on a performance stand point for laptops where their integrated graphics actually get used. like i said, this is interesting stuff. nice find Coolax

[CoolaxGaming]

actually, the more i mull this over in my mind the more i believe that this is for a mobile/laptop solution. HBM is more energy efficient, couple that with power savings by moving it closer to the cpu/gpu. it makes sense for a mobile platform with non-upgradable ram, and makes sense for on a performance stand point for laptops where their integrated graphics actually get used. like i said, this is interesting stuff. nice find Coolax

Reading everything AMD writes has its benefits 

[Whoopsie988]

AMD really need to pick up their game if they're not to go bankrupt by 2020 and hopefully this could possibly do the trick.

[AlwaysFSX]

I doubt they will replace DDR with some kind of AMD-only memory sticks with HBM. Like Linus said it will most likely be used in a similar way to another cache level, shared between the CPU and onboard GPU.

Which will also probably drive prices up too.

[Briggsy]

They've been talking about this for some time. 200-300 watt TDP 14nm Zen APU's with HBM 2.0. 

 

Just imagine a gamecube-sized m-ITX AIO cooled gaming PC that you can toss in your backpack, and play all the latest games at ultra. 

[Jackgamer91]

AMD is poised to blow Intel out of the water simply because moar cores = the future and I am a fan of Intel. What goes up must come down. 

[Opcode]

I think the idea is for pushing forward towards a more complete SoC. Cutting out system memory will allow for much more uniform embedded and small form factor chips. It also can be used as a dedicated memory pool for compute kernels and graphics. Imagine the PCB space that the PS4 and XBOX One will save with the memory being on package the next generation. We should be seeing smaller consoles next time around (due to power efficiency improvements as well). Imagine HPC and server platforms that no longer need DIMM slots on the board to accommodate memory since the chip comes fully featured. I would expect to see Zen+ with APU's featuring HBM for the integrated graphics on desktops to remove the memory bottleneck that current APU's endure.

[george357]

As @Glenwing said this could be to help with graphics memory, maybe this could be the APU version of a discrete cards' GDDR5. That makes the most logical sense IMO.

[Embattled]

It would potentially make even more sense on mobile and laptop platforms because of the power and space savings. 

[george357]

Tis article from PCWorld seems to state that it is designed with graphics in mind.

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2922599/amd-talks-up-high-bandwidth-memory-that-will-power-its-next-gpus-pokes-nvidia-too.html

 

 

"HBM addresses the limitations of GDDR5 by going vertical like a high-rise. By stacking four memory chips, AMD can get the RAM closer to the GPU, which shortens the wire length drastically. Unlike GDDR5, HBM RAM uses a technique called through-silicon vias or TSVs, that string wires vertically through holes in a stack of chips. Each layer also connects to the next directly using tiny bump contacts.

Because the layers interconnect and the wires don’t have to go as far to reach the GPU, it’s possible to make the bus far wider without incurring the power consumption of GDDR.".....

Additionally:

"The dividends, Macri said, are radical. A GDDR5 chip, today, for example will support a 32-bit-wide memory bus with up to 7GBps of bandwidth. A single stack of HBM RAM supports a 1,024-bit-wide bus and more than 125GBps of memory bandwidth. That HBM chip also runs at a far lower clock speed while achieving a magnitude more memory bandwidth.

Because power efficiency is very important, AMD says an HBM stack will hit 35GBps of memory bandwidth per watt consumed, vs. GDDR5’s 10.5GBps. Power efficiency isn’t just about mobile applications, either. By using less power to drive the memory, and thus creating less heat, you can take the savings and, say, increase the clocks of the GPU core."

 

The section quoted above appears to indicate that using HBM is preferred both for speed and power consumption. If AMD is going to even try and come lose to challenging Intel they will definitely need more than just better power consumption and form-factor. Effective horsepower and bandwidth will also be necessary.