Micron takes the lead in betting on GDDR stacking technology, quietly kicking off a new round of competition in the AI memory market.

``` Micron Technology is seeking to carve out a new track in the AI memory sector—vertically stacking graphics memory (GDDR) like high bandwidth memory (HBM) to fill the market gap between HBM and standard GDDR. According to Korea’s ETNews, Micron has started developing this new vertically stacked GDDR product, planning to complete related equipment deployment and enter the process testing stage in the second half of this year. Initially, it is expected to achieve around four layers of GDDR stacking, with samples potentially available as early as next year. This move puts Micron ahead of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, giving it a strong chance to seize the initiative in this emerging niche market. The move comes as expanding AI application scenarios continue to accelerate the diversification of memory demand. With its cost advantages, GDDR is being increasingly used in AI inference accelerators, but its bandwidth bottleneck has limited further penetration. By using stacking technology to boost GDDR performance, new growth opportunities could emerge for the market. GDDR Stacking: Positioned in the Price Band Between HBM and Standard Memory GDDR is a type of memory optimized for video processing and 3D graphics rendering, long used mainly in graphics cards and gaming devices. Compared to HBM, GDDR has lower bandwidth but is more cost-competitive, and has recently begun to appear in some AI accelerators. The stacked GDDR product that Micron is developing aims to create a new offering with performance between that of HBM and standard GDDR—bandwidth superior to current GDDR, but lower cost than HBM. The product specs are currently being discussed with clients such as AI accelerator makers, with the market direction focused clearly on custom client needs. Analysts believe stacked GDDR will occupy the middle market between HBM and non-stacked GDDR, and will also likely see considerable demand in the ever-growing high-performance gaming graphics card market. The expanding AI market is driving diversified product needs—NVIDIA’s use of SRAM in inference-specific chips is a typical example of this trend. Technical Barriers and Cost Control Are Key to Mass Production Although the market outlook draws attention, GDDR stacking technology is still in its early stages, previously appearing only in academic papers and cutting-edge research, with no precedent for mass production. The industry points out that Micron faces multiple technical challenges, including the method of interconnection between GDDR chips, power management, and thermal control. In terms of cost, the additional manufacturing expenses introduced by stacking processes cannot be ignored—if cost-performance advantages over HBM cannot be maintained, the product’s market competitiveness will be significantly reduced. An industry insider stated: "In the past, in addition to technical challenges, the unclear market positioning of stacked GDDR has been a key reason commercialization has not advanced. As the AI memory market landscape evolves, the necessity of stacked GDDR has become pronounced, and Micron’s attempt may mark the start of a new round of memory stacking competition." Outpacing Samsung and SK Hynix, and Laying Out a New Segment Micron’s move into stacked GDDR shows a clear first-mover strategy. At present, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have yet to announce similar plans; if Micron can achieve a technical breakthrough and commercialize first, it will establish a competitive barrier in this segment. From a market size perspective, stacked GDDR is currently regarded as a niche market. But as AI inference gets more popular and the demand for diverse accelerator hardware increases, its potential should not be underestimated. Micron obviously has factored this judgment into its product strategy, choosing to make its move before the market landscape becomes settled. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market has risks, and investment must be cautious. This article does not constitute individual investment advice, nor does it take into account the unique investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article suit their individual circumstances. Any investment made accordingly is your own responsibility. ```