SK Hynix roadmap points to DDR6 in 2030

SK Hynix unveiled its latest memory roadmap at the AI Summit 2025, and for PC builders, the main takeaway is this: don't hold your breath for DDR6. According to the timeline, the new RAM standard isn't expected to be a significant factor for mainstream PCs until around 2030. 

SK Hynix's roadmap shared by @harukaze5719 (via Wccftech) shows that while the company plans to launch DDR6 products in 2029, it will, as always, be destined for the server market first. This suggests DDR5 has a much longer lifespan ahead of it than many anticipated. The same long-term timeline appears to apply to storage, with PCIe 6.0-based SSDs also unlikely to hit the consumer market for a long time.

On the other hand, memory for mobile devices is accelerating. The roadmap indicates that LPDDR6 will arrive much sooner, with an expected release as early as next year. This new memory will be used in the next-generation SOCAMM2 standard, replacing LPDDR5X in high-performance laptops.

Also mentioned in the roadmap is HBM (High Bandwidth Memory). Development is relentless, with HBM4 starting in 2026, followed quickly by HBM4e, and subsequently HBM5 in 2029 and HBM5e towards 2031. SK Hynix is also moving toward Custom HBM (HBM4E/5/5E), which would allow clients to add logic functions to the memory's base die.

Lastly, for graphics memory, the roadmap teases “GDDR7 Next”. This is likely a nod to the emerging GDDR8 standard, which has appeared on other roadmaps in a similar timeframe. Alternatively, it could be something like GDDR7X.

KitGuru says: The DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 generation still has plenty of time left on the clock. 

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