[News] SK hynix Partners with Naver Cloud to Test CXL, PIM Memory Tech, Reportedly Eyes Major CSPs

In the era of big data and AI, Compute Express Link (CXL) has emerged as the next-generation high-speed standard. To push its lead beyond HBM, SK hynix has partnered with Naver Cloud, launching proof-of-concept tests to commercialize next-generation AI memory solutions, according to Sedaily.

SK hynix stated in its press release on September 10 that it had signed an MOU with Naver Cloud, with the collaboration focusing on testing the memory giant’s next-gen AI memory technologies—CXL and Processing-in-Memory (PIM)—in Naver Cloud’s real-world data centers.

Notably, Sedaily suggests that after completing proof-of-concept testing, SK hynix is expected to compete for next-gen AI memory solution orders from global data center operators such as AWS, Microsoft, and Google.

CXL and PIM Explained

As Edaily explains, CXL is a next-generation interconnect standard that links and expands CPU, GPU, and memory at high speed, while PIM integrates computing functions directly into memory chips, enabling calculations without moving data.

Sedaily further points out that CXL can dramatically improve data processing efficiency by providing memory coherency and shared semantics, allowing CPUs and GPUs to share each other’s memory resources on demand.

However, while CXL is advancing toward standardization, PIM remains in its early stages, with Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron jointly developing standards, making immediate commercialization challenging, the Edaily report notes.

Samsung’s Progress

Samsung, on the other hand, is said to be developing its own next-gen memory solutions. According to Sedaily, Samsung has developed HBM-PIM—combining HBM with PIM technology—which has demonstrated significant performance improvements in testing with AMD’s AI accelerator platforms.

Additionally, in June, Samsung announced that its CXL infrastructure had received certification from Red Hat. As Nikkei reported, Samsung plans to start CXL shipments in the second half of this year, with the market expected to surge from 2027.

Read more

• [News] SK hynix Ramps up CXL Push with First In-House Controller, Reportedly to be Built by TSMC
• [News] Samsung Reportedly Bets on CXL Memory in the AI Race
• [News] CXL Emerges as a Game-Changer, Storage Giants Become Key Players

(Photo credit: SK hynix)