The CAMM (Compression Attached Memory Modules) standard may make its way to desktop computers, according to SK hynix.
Not only Notebooks, but also CAMM Memory Modules will pave the way for desktop computers in the future
CAMM is a new memory standard that shrinks the size of traditional DRAM modules, making them more compact and enabling higher capacities. The second generation of this memory standard is now available in the form of LPCAMM2 for notebook and thin/light PC designs. In the CAMM standard, LP stands for low power, as existing modules are based on the LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X standards and offer speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps.
During CES 2024 ITSublssub, SK visited the hynix booth, where a company representative announced that the new CAMM standard will also be coming to desktop computers. It turns out that the first PC application for desktop platforms was already in the works, although no specifics were mentioned.
It looks like this is indeed the case, as our resident leaker and fellow insider points out, HXL (@9550pro)the recent JEDEC PR In announcing the publication of the CAMM2 memory standard, it is also noted that CAMM2 will have a common connector design for both DDR5 and low-power LPDDR5/X memory modules. JEDEC lists both laptops and mainstream desktops as platforms for which the CAMM standard is intended.
DDR5 and LPDDR5/5X CAMM2s cater to different use cases. DDR5 CAMM2s are targeted at performance notebooks and mainstream desktops, while LPDDR5/5X CAMM2s target a wider range of notebooks and certain server market segments.
Although JESD318 CAMM2 defines a common connector design for both DDR5 and LPDDR5/X, it is very important to note that the pinouts for each are different. Intentional changes in installation procedures between DDR5 and LPDDR5/X CAMM2s to support different motherboard designs prevent the module from being installed where it shouldn’t go.
With DDR5 and future DRAM, CAMM memory modules will definitely mark a big change in the design of motherboards. Mainboards currently have 2 or 4 DIMM slots that can hold up to 256 GB with the latest 64 GB modules. The entire PC motherboard ecosystem needs to be redesigned to support CAMM, and that’s not something that will happen overnight.
As with the notebook segment, we’ve seen some designs featuring LPCAMM, while most designs stick to traditional SO-DIMM or soldered memory circuitry. It is possible that when CAMM becomes more mature, motherboard vendors will try to test the new standard by releasing a few select CAMM motherboards and see how consumers react to it. Similarly, memory manufacturers will have to develop new solutions based on CAMM modules.
On the back of each CAMM module is a connector that can be plugged into a CPU-like socket. Features such as support for high-speed memory overclocking, throttling and OC profiles in the Intel XMP and AMD EXPO ecosystems will also need to be reworked. Still, don’t expect CAMM to hit the desktop market any time soon, but it would be a huge development for the memory industry.
News source: @harukaze5719