Why it matters: A Dell laptop introduced earlier this year may have provided the first real alternative to older DIMM and SO-DIMM standards. Although there was initial controversy, Dell championed its new Compression Attached Memory Module (CAMM) standard because of its advantages in connectivity, speed, and efficiency.
When Dell unveiled the Precision 7670 portable workstation in April, some noticed the company was using it to introduce a new type of RAM. RAM has used DIMM and SO-DIMM connectors for decades, and DELL could convince the industry to switch to CAMM.
Since Dell patented CAMM, concerns arose that it would remain proprietary and that laptops using CAMM could only use RAM upgrades purchased from Dell. However, the company soon announced to PCWorld its intention to license CAMM with the help of the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC).
Dell may be the only company currently offering CAMM memory, but they want other vendors to support it in the future. Additionally, Precision laptop models that currently support CAMM will eventually have SO-DIMM versions, allowing users to get the latest Precision models while keeping access to more accessible memory upgrades.
Compared to SO-DIMM, CAMM’s connectors leave a shorter distance between memory and CPU. Along with their thinner, cooler footprint, this allows Dell – and hopefully other manufacturers in the future – to make PCs that are thinner and lighter.
One of the reasons Dell is moving to CAMM is that it believes SO-DIMM connections will soon reach their limit. The company estimates that by the time PCs get to DDR6 system RAM, transfer speeds will saturate SO-DIMMs. CAMM already has an advantage in this area, allowing 128 GB of 4800 RAM, while SO-DIMM is limited to 4000 at this capacity.
The only major drawback of the new standard so far is that it is a little more difficult for users to install and upgrade than DIMMs and SO-DIMMs. In newer Precision laptops, the process involves removing six screws and a reinforcement plate, which is more complex than opening the retention clips for SO-DIMMs. However, the extra steps probably won’t stop anyone already savvy enough to upgrade the RAM.
Apart from the new style of RAM, the Precision 7670 includes the user’s choice of a 12th Gen Intel processor, Nvidia Quadro RTX graphics, 16-inch 1920 x 1200 display, and SSD PCIe 4. Customers can also choose between Windows 10, Windows 11 and Ubuntu. The workstation laptop starts at $2,400.