Samsung did not unveil separate 28Gbps and 32Gbps GDDR7 products in one July 2023 announcement. On July 19, 2023, it announced a 16Gb GDDR7 DRAM device rated for up to 32Gbps per pin. Samsung lists a separate 16Gb, 28.0Gbps device, part number K4VAF325ZC-SC28. The distinction matters because a memory chip’s maximum data rate, a graphics card’s selected operating speed and its total bandwidth are different specifications.
Samsung’s GDDR7 portfolio has since moved beyond both figures: the company announced 24Gb devices rated at 40Gbps, with up to 42.5Gbps under specified conditions, in October 2024.
What Samsung actually announced
Samsung’s original GDDR7 announcement came on July 19, 2023. The product was a 16Gb GDDR7 DRAM device capable of data rates up to 32Gbps per pin. Samsung said the chips would enter verification in next-generation systems from key customers during 2023; this was a component announcement, not a retail launch of upgradeable memory for PC owners.
Samsung described the device for next-generation graphics cards, workstations, PCs, game consoles, AI and high-performance computing, with potential automotive applications. Its announcement is available in the Samsung Global Newsroom and the company’s semiconductor newsroom.
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Samsung separately lists a 28.0Gbps, 16Gb GDDR7 component, part number K4VAF325ZC-SC28, organized as 512M × 32. Its official product page establishes that the part exists, but does not show that it was part of the July 2023 unveiling. The safest description is therefore: Samsung launched GDDR7 at up to 32Gbps and later lists a separate 28Gbps speed grade.
28Gbps and 32Gbps: speed, capacity and bandwidth are different
Gbps means gigabits transferred per second on each memory pin. It is a data-rate specification, not the amount of VRAM. A chip rated at 16Gb has 16 gigabits of storage density; that is unrelated to a 28Gbps or 32Gbps transfer rate. A graphics card’s total VRAM is normally expressed in gigabytes, such as 16GB or 32GB, after multiple memory devices are combined.
Aggregate theoretical bandwidth depends on both data rate and the GPU’s memory-bus width:
Memory bandwidth = memory data rate × memory-bus width ÷ 8
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| GDDR7 data rate | Bus width | Theoretical bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| 28Gbps | 128-bit | 448GB/s |
| 28Gbps | 192-bit | 672GB/s |
| 28Gbps | 256-bit | 896GB/s |
| 28Gbps | 384-bit | 1,344GB/s |
| 28Gbps | 512-bit | 1,792GB/s |
| 32Gbps | 256-bit | 1,024GB/s |
| 32Gbps | 384-bit | 1,536GB/s |
| 32Gbps | 512-bit | 2,048GB/s |
Samsung’s original claim of up to 1.5TB/s is consistent with a 32Gbps data rate on a 384-bit interface: 32 × 384 ÷ 8 equals 1,536GB/s. That is an aggregate theoretical graphics-card figure, not the speed of one DRAM chip. Real application results depend on GPU architecture, cache, memory compression, controller behavior, software, thermals and the workload.
Why a manufacturer might choose 28Gbps
A GDDR7 family can include multiple speed grades. A board designer may select 28Gbps instead of a component’s 32Gbps maximum to balance power, thermals, cost, signal integrity, memory-controller capability, product segmentation, yield and supply. The lower rate is not a different memory standard; both are GDDR7 operating points.
How GDDR7 raises data rates
GDDR7 introduces PAM3 (three-level pulse-amplitude modulation) instead of the two-level NRZ signaling used by earlier GDDR generations. Three signal levels allow 1.5 bits of data per signaling cycle, compared with 1 bit for NRZ. Samsung explains the signaling change in its technical announcement.
PAM3 improves signaling efficiency, but it does not guarantee 50% more game performance. Higher transfer rates also place greater demands on the GPU’s memory controller, package, PCB routing, power delivery and signal integrity. A complete graphics card can be limited by compute resources or software long before its memory interface reaches theoretical peak throughput.
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- [Size] Module Size: 8GB Package: 1x8GB
- [Voltage] JEDEC standard 1.35V, this is a dual voltage piece and can operate at 1.35V or 1.5V
- [Compatibility] Compatible with DDR3 Laptop / Notebook PC, Mini PC, All in one Device
- [Color] PCB Color is Green
Power and thermal claims
Samsung compared its original 32Gbps device with 24Gbps GDDR6 and claimed approximately 20% better power efficiency. It also claimed a 70% reduction in package thermal resistance versus GDDR6, citing a higher-thermal-conductivity epoxy molding compound and circuit-design changes. Samsung said a lower-voltage version could serve laptops and other power-constrained products.
Those are Samsung’s component- and package-level comparisons, not independent tests of a complete graphics card. A board’s total power and temperature still depend on the GPU, voltage settings, cooler, PCB and workload.
GDDR7, GDDR6 and GDDR6X in practice
GDDR7 is a newer industry memory standard with PAM3 signaling and higher intended data rates. GDDR6 and GDDR6X cards can still deliver excellent results because performance depends on the entire GPU design, including shader or compute resources, cache, bus width, memory capacity and power limits. A GDDR7 label alone does not make a lower-tier card faster than every GDDR6 or GDDR6X model.
JEDEC published the formal GDDR7 standard in March 2024. The JEDEC announcement carried by Business Wire describes the standard’s PAM signaling and its targets in AI, HPC and high-end gaming. Individual suppliers may implement additional features differently; the standard, a DRAM chip and a GPU’s controller should not be treated as interchangeable.
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What shipping GPUs show about the difference
NVIDIA lists GDDR7 across its RTX 50 Series configurations, while the RTX 5050 is listed with GDDR6 on the company’s comparison page. The official table includes these GDDR7 capacities:
| GPU | Listed memory |
|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 32GB GDDR7 |
| GeForce RTX 5080 | 16GB GDDR7 |
| GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 16GB GDDR7 |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 12GB GDDR7 |
| GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | 8GB or 16GB GDDR7 |
| GeForce RTX 5060 | 8GB GDDR7 |
See NVIDIA’s official GeForce comparison page for the listed specifications. NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture document specifies the RTX 5090 with 32GB of GDDR7, a 512-bit interface, a 28Gbps memory data rate and 1,792GB/s of bandwidth; those figures are also shown in the architecture PDF.
The RTX 5090 is a useful correction to headline-based assumptions: a shipping GPU can operate its GDDR7 at 28Gbps even though Samsung’s first announcement highlighted up to 32Gbps. The 28Gbps rate multiplied by a 512-bit bus produces the card’s stated 1,792GB/s. Samsung says its GDDR7 is optimized for integration in GeForce RTX 50 products in a technology blog, but that does not prove that every RTX 50 board uses Samsung-supplied memory. Suppliers and memory lots can vary by board and market.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Samsung’s later 24Gb and 40Gbps generation
On October 17, 2024, Samsung announced a 24Gb GDDR7 device with a nominal 40Gbps operating speed and up to 42.5Gbps depending on the operating environment. Samsung cited its fifth-generation 10nm-class DRAM process and claimed more than 30% power-efficiency improvement over its previous version. The announcement targeted AI systems, data centers, AI workstations, graphics cards, consoles and autonomous-driving systems; details are in the Samsung release.
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- [Color] PCB color may vary (black or green) depending on production batch. Quality and performance remain consistent across all Timetec products.
- DDR3L / DDR3 1600MHz PC3L-12800 / PC3-12800 240-Pin Unbuffered Non-ECC 1.35V / 1.5V CL11 Dual Rank 2Rx8 based 512x8
- Module Size: 32GB KIT(4x8GB Modules) Package: 4x8GB ; JEDEC standard 1.35V, this is a dual voltage piece and can operate at 1.35V or 1.5V
- For DDR3 Desktop Compatible with Intel and AMD CPU, Not for Laptop
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Samsung later reported that production of the 24Gb GDDR7 began in January 2025, with speeds up to 42.5Gbps and up to 1.92TB/s of total bandwidth in suitable configurations, in its interim-report material. Samsung’s current GDDR overview describes products reaching up to 40Gbps and densities up to 24Gb. These later parts are a subsequent generation of the product line, not a revision of what Samsung announced in July 2023.
What GDDR7 means for GPU buyers
Capacity comes before the label
Choose enough VRAM for the resolution, texture settings, applications and models you intend to run. An 8GB GDDR7 card can be a worse fit for a workload that exceeds its frame buffer than a 16GB card using older memory. Once capacity is insufficient, stutter, texture reduction or out-of-core data movement can outweigh a moderate advantage in transfer rate.
Compare the complete graphics card
- Check independent workload benchmarks, not only the memory generation.
- Compare VRAM capacity, bus width and theoretical bandwidth.
- Consider the GPU’s compute resources, cache, drivers and software support.
- Check board power, cooling, noise, dimensions and connector requirements.
- Compare the actual price and availability of the exact board-partner model in your region.
NVIDIA’s comparison page is a specification and shopping gateway rather than a fixed worldwide price list. Prices vary by country, retailer, stock, cooler and board partner; no single current price applies to every RTX 50 model.
Can an existing GPU be upgraded?
Normally no. GDDR chips are soldered to the graphics-card PCB, not installed as user-replaceable modules. Replacing them requires specialized rework, compatible GPU-controller support, firmware changes and board-level validation. A faster GDDR7 chip cannot be dropped into a GDDR6 or GDDR6X card.
GDDR7 versus HBM
GDDR7 is designed for broad graphics-card and accelerator integration, using discrete chips around the processor and conventional board-level routing. HBM places stacked memory much closer to the compute processor and can deliver substantially higher aggregate bandwidth for suitable high-end systems. Samsung positions GDDR7 as a lower-cost, broadly applicable option rather than a universal replacement for HBM; its GDDR7 overview describes the intended graphics and AI positioning.
For buyers, the practical choice is workload-specific: GDDR7 can be compelling in gaming, workstations and some AI systems, while HBM remains important where extreme bandwidth and capacity per package justify its cost and packaging complexity.
The bottom line
Samsung’s first GDDR7 announcement was a 16Gb device rated up to 32Gbps per pin on July 19, 2023. The 28Gbps K4VAF325ZC-SC28 is a separate Samsung-listed speed grade, and 28Gbps is already used as the operating rate in at least one major shipping configuration, the RTX 5090. Samsung’s portfolio subsequently advanced to 24Gb devices at 40Gbps and beyond. For a GPU purchase, evaluate capacity, bus width, complete-card performance, power and price together; “GDDR7” by itself is not a performance guarantee.
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