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
Go play with some desktop ddr5 at 8000 and above and come back to me about cooling limitations.
If there are benefits to using this new form factor I don't see any reason to not adopt it. Preferably for desktop they'd have a tool-less design. I already hate installing the tiny screw for M.2s.It would be possible to cool backside components with a lateral fan. assuming they do end up putting memory near the CPU. There would be an added bonus to that in that it would keep the CPU cooler as well. Of course it's also possible that cases adapt and include fan mounts that can hit the back of the motherboard or they can add large perforations similar to what you have on the outside of most cases to the motherboard tray to increase airflow and heat dissipation. Depending on how much material they remove from the tray for the perforations, they could offset any loss of structural rigidity by increasing tray thickness. In fact, I think in general a perforated tray would be a good idea as it would help keep things cool regardless of back mounting or not.
Implementing this in almost any modern case is rather dumb as the cable management is done on the rear side of the motherboard tray and will block most if not any airflow to be provided in a case that isn’t dual chamber.
There are SO many standards and designs that would have to be changed across the industry to accommodate it, for little to no benefit. Desktop memory frequency, latency (in relation to timings) and capacity has aways been superior to mobile/laptop implementations because heat and power requirements are much different. Theres no current benefit aside from companies making billions by forcing new standards in the industry.
In this case CAMM is the only real way to bring it to desktop since lpddr5x is not possible on a DIMM
I can see the benefits for laptops and space constrained systems, but for desktops/workstations this seems like a very bad idea.
Seriously, They have to do something, people are using MATX instead of ITX or ATX because they might need extra PCIe Slot, but still need a compact system, the additional M.2 slots wasted so much space that there's a MATX or two that has only a single PCIe slot!! it's like moving from ITX to MATX just because they needed more space for M.2 slots !!
They have to extend the idea of using vertical M.2 mount, like some ASUS motherboards, but this can happen somewhere else, two M.2 drives can be mounted vertically in the same space occupied by a single horizontal M.2 slot, with plenty of space to add heatsinks as well.
How on earth they will add these CAMM? I guess a single module can take less space than 4 slots, yet it can do dual channel, but how can they add two? stack them over with some gap between? this actually can work, especially for compact quad channel memory system (MATX Threadripper coming back?) Or we might finally get Threadripper Pro in ATX formfactor, EATX no more.
Motherboards are getting more features that makes them bigger, the market for compact system is endangered because most of these features are implemented horizontally, some had to innovate by having some logics in a separate daughterboard (VRMS) or moving to the back of the motherboard (M.2 slots), but it keeps getting more crowded with ATX 12VO requiring extra power circuit on the motherboard to provide 5V & 3.3V (with extra space for the connectors as well).
This is one of the main reasons I'm curious about DDR5 capacity on CAMM as desktops might be forced into single channel mode to maximize capacity, but that would make cooling harder.
So we might see single channel CAMMs for desktop and dual channel for mobile then... urgh...
Thanks for sharing this, as I don't think it's that widely known. Is it your name and email address on the first pic?