SK hynix has been named the exclusive supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for U.S. tech giant Microsoft's latest artificial intelligence (AI) chip, sources said Tuesday.

According to the sources, the Korean chipmaker was tapped as the sole supplier of HBM3Es, the fifth-generation of HBM, for Microsoft's Maia 200 accelerator designed for the U.S. company's AI data centers.

Microsoft, which did not clarify its HBM supplier in its release, described Maia 200 as "the most efficient inference system" the company has ever deployed, noting it is already installed at its data center in Iowa.

The latest deal comes amid intensifying competition between Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) sector, which refers to custom chips designed for particular applications, such as those ordered by Google, Microsoft and Amazon.

Sources said Nvidia and AMD have recently completed quality tests of Samsung Electronics' sixth-generation HBM4 products, with official supply slated to begin next month.

SK hynix, meanwhile, is gearing up for full-fledged production of HBM4 products, with samples already supplied to Nvidia.

By: DocMemory
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