Nvidia Tests Lower-Memory Rubin Ultra Designs Amid HBM Shortages

Nvidia's Rubin Ultra GPU, set to be released in 2025, is facing supply constraints due to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) shortages. The company is reportedly testing multiple versions of the chip, including designs with less HBM than initially planned.

The shortage of HBM chips has been driven by surging demand for AI infrastructure and rising data center spending. This has pushed up prices and forced companies to spend more on hardware. NVDA's Rubin Ultra samples currently under evaluation would represent a reduction in memory compared to the company's existing Rubin chip, which is already in mass production.

Stocktwits retail traders viewed the report as evidence of ongoing AI supply constraints, with some seeing Micron as a potential beneficiary. One trader noted that 'supply constraints are real' even for NVDA and that lower-memory chips could require more GPUs to run large AI models.