[News] SK hynix Ramps up CXL Push with First In-House Controller, Reportedly to be Built by TSMC

In the era of big data and AI, Compute Express Link (CXL) has emerged as the next-gen, high-speed standard, with memory giants eager to join the race. According to the bell, SK hynix is incorporating chiplet technology into its first in-house CXL controller, which will reportedly be manufactured by TSMC.

According to the report, SK hynix applied the CXL controller from China’s Montage Technology in its CMM-DDR5 in 2024. Now it prepares to produce its own CXL controllers for CXL 3.0 and 3.1., the report adds.

As per the bell, SK hynix is also exploring 2.5D and Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging (FOWLP), as it prepares to commercialize chiplet technology.

The report adds that chiplets use multiple controller dies connected via Mosaic Link (M.link). SK hynix’s in-house CXL controller die will likely use TSMC’s advanced process, while M.link is expected to adopt a 12nm process.

Another report from MTN News indicates that SK hynix plans to begin mass production of CXL-based DDR5 memory (CXL Memory Module) by the end of the first quarter.

CXL is a next-gen interface which connects CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, and DRAM. Its key advantage, according to the bell, would be maximizing memory scalability—unlike traditional DRAM limited to memory slots, CXL DRAM leverages PCIe slots to expand capacity over 10 times.

Notably, SK hynix isn’t the only memory giant eyeing the CXL market. Samsung launched the industry’s first CXL-based DRAM module (CMM-D) in 2021 and unveiled the upgraded CMM-D 2.0 in May 2022, featuring a 512GB module with higher bandwidth and lower latency, according to its website.

Read more

• [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)