[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang (황치규)] Nvidia is considering equipping its next-generation Rubin Ultra GPU with less high-bandwidth memory (HBM) than planned, The Information reported on Wednesday. It is a move to respond to shortages of advanced memory chips.

Nvidia has tested at least three Rubin Ultra GPU versions in recent weeks, and some use less memory than it had announced, The Information reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

Nvidia's move stems from concerns it may not be able to secure cutting-edge memory at the level originally designed, The Information said.

Less memory could reduce performance, but Nvidia can offset it to some extent with other technology. Companies running large AI models on the chip may need to buy more Rubin Ultra GPUs than before, The Information said.

Two Nvidia customers said lower memory is unlikely to significantly hurt demand for Vera Rubin GPUs. Prices are also likely to fall, which could make them a cheaper option for companies seeking to cut spending. Another customer puts more weight on maintaining a long-term partnership with Nvidia than on the memory specifications of individual chips, The Information said.