Thursday, January 18th 2024
SK Hynix Throws a Jab: CAMM is Coming to Desktop PCs
In a surprising turn of events, SK Hynix has hinted at the possibility of the Compression Attached Memory Module (CAMM) standard, initially designed for laptops, being introduced to desktop PCs. This revelation came from a comment made by an SK Hynix representative at the CES 2024 in Las Vegas for the Korean tech media ITSubIssub. According to the SK Hynix representative, the first implementation is underway, but there are no specific details. CAMM, an innovative memory standard developed by Dell in 2022, was certified to replace SO-DIMM as the official standard for laptop memory. However, the transition to desktop PCs could significantly disrupt the desktop memory market. The CAMM modules, unlike the vertical DRAM sticks currently in use, are horizontal and are screwed into a socket. This design change would necessitate a complete overhaul of the desktop motherboard layout.
The thin, flat design of the CAMM modules could also limit the number that can be installed on an ATX board. However, the desktop version of the standard CAMM2 was announced by JEDEC just a month ago. It is designed for DDR5 memory, but it is expected to become mainstream with the introduction of DDR6 around 2025. While CAMM allows for higher speeds and densities for mobile memory, its advantages for desktops over traditional memory sticks are yet to be fully understood. Although low-power CAMM modules could offer energy savings, this is typically more relevant for mobile devices than desktops. As we move towards DDR6 and DDR7, more information about CAMM for desktops will be needed to understand its potential benefits. JEDEC's official words on the new standard indicate that "DDR5 CAMM2s are intended for performance notebooks and mainstream desktops, while LPDDR5/5X CAMM2s target a broader range of notebooks and certain server market segments." So, we can expect to see CAMM2 in both desktops and some server applications.
Source:
ExtremeTech
The thin, flat design of the CAMM modules could also limit the number that can be installed on an ATX board. However, the desktop version of the standard CAMM2 was announced by JEDEC just a month ago. It is designed for DDR5 memory, but it is expected to become mainstream with the introduction of DDR6 around 2025. While CAMM allows for higher speeds and densities for mobile memory, its advantages for desktops over traditional memory sticks are yet to be fully understood. Although low-power CAMM modules could offer energy savings, this is typically more relevant for mobile devices than desktops. As we move towards DDR6 and DDR7, more information about CAMM for desktops will be needed to understand its potential benefits. JEDEC's official words on the new standard indicate that "DDR5 CAMM2s are intended for performance notebooks and mainstream desktops, while LPDDR5/5X CAMM2s target a broader range of notebooks and certain server market segments." So, we can expect to see CAMM2 in both desktops and some server applications.
41 Comments on SK Hynix Throws a Jab: CAMM is Coming to Desktop PCs
This would also allow for larger CPUs onto existing mATX and ATX standards, such as newer Threadripper mATX or ATX board, or slightly larger next-gen CPUs with more lanes as add-in cards are coming back into vogue; streaming card, storage cards, audio card maybe, future dedicated AI card (or a second GPU used for AI purposes), etc.
Sure, the only loss would be in RGB details since no more RGB or thematic RAM heatsinks, but with in-computer LCD/LED/OLED screens apparently becoming the newest, hottest trend and cheap enough to implement on various fans and cooler tops, the extra real-estate topside would allow for larger waterblocks with screens that could cool just the CPU, or the CPU and VRMs, or CPU, VRMs, and the NVMe drive next to the CPU.
You can see it in this video, although he doesn't remove the "shim".
I’d be willing to bet no modern or revised DDR5 to come in the next year would be able to provide high frequency kits without crippling latency in this kind of format; even if this is meant to be implemented much further down the road. Without much more efficient dram heat will definitely be a problem on top of being a frequency limiting factor.
These require new cases, so I'd expect such cases to change to accomodate cooling for rear-mounted RAM if that's the way things go.
At least that makes it very clear that the part that has the biggest chance of getting accidentally damaged can be swapped out.Yeah no, if that was the case, then laptops would be dying every five minutes.
The latency isn't about the chips themselves, but rather between the memory module and the CPU socket. Two different things. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
Dont forget the camm modules would be sitting next to a 100-250w cpu instead of one running at 6-50w
www.techpowerup.com/317612/patriot-memory-at-2024-ces-14gb-s-gen-5-ssds-usb4-prototypes-ddr5-memory-with-ckd
Your CPU doesn't have a cooler? Also, I guess you've missed out on gaming laptops with 100W+ GPUs in them that sit next to the RAM?CXL and similar things can be used for RAM though, but it's unlikely to show up in consumer devices any time soon.
The cooling scenario is entirely different with parts consuming a fraction of what desktop parts use all while having everything in a laptop strapped to a unified heatpipe/vaporchamber cooler with blower fans making your ears bleeds as soon as you put a load thats going to max the available tdp.
Format is a terrible idea for desktops, heat will undoubtably be an issue. Comparing DDR5 7000 with loose timings c48+ at low 1.1-1.2v isn’t the same thing as a desktop setup. Go put a gen4 nvme drive on the back of an itx board and see what happens to temps.
Also, PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive thermals ≠ DDR5 8000 thermals, but again, whatever, you have clearly made up your mind, so not point continuing this discussion.