Pat Gelsinger slams HBM as "a lousy memory" wasting four bits for every one it makes
SumitGup · x · 2026-10-11
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger publicly criticized HBM right before SK Hynix execs took the stage, calling it "a lousy memory" on three grounds: stacked DRAM creates a "thermal sandwich"; bandwidth is limited by the point-to-point link to the GPU; and it is bitwise inefficient — nominally giving up four bits of memory for every usable bit produced. He quipped that "calling their baby ugly" isn't the best way to make friends, but the critique targets core weaknesses of the dominant AI memory technology.
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