If you want to upgrade your Dell laptop memory, you may be out of luck
New proprietary DDR5 module would require users to turn to Dell for memory upgrades
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Upgrading theRAMin yourDell laptopmay soon be out of the question as the PC maker has developed its own proprietary form factor forDDR5memory.
As reported byTom’s Hardwareand first spotted byiGPU Extremiston Twitter, the Austin-based company’s upcoming Precision 7670 mobile workstation features its new Compression Attached Memory Module (CAMM) that houses the device’s memory.
While the full details on the Precision 7670 are set to be released later this month, iGPU Extremist shared photographs of the laptop which show what appears to be a single-sided module with 16 integrated circuits (ICs).Dell’s CAMM features two zones with eight ICs on each side and the design will probably run in a dual-channel configuration.
While we haven’t yet heard from the company regarding CAMM, its new memory module will likely offer a more compact alternative to replace two SO-DIMM memory slots.
Thinner laptops at the cost of user upgradability
Unlikebusiness laptopswhich tend to be both thin and light,mobile workstationsare known for being a bit heftier due to their more powerful components and larger batteries.
Through CAMM though, Dell will likely be able to simplify the designs of its laptops and make them thinner and even potentially lighter as more memory can be crammed into a smaller space.
Dell overhauls Latitude, Precision laptop lineups for the next era of work>Dell wants to simplify PC management for the hybrid working age>This could be the world’s first DDR5 laptop, but you’d never guess who built it
While CAMM certainly sounds like a better implementation thansoldering memoryto a device’s motherboard, it would prevent users from upgrading the RAM on their devices using off-the-shelf components. Instead, they would need to purchase memory upgrades directly from Dell which would come at a premium.
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Still though, Dell could decide to open up CAMM to third-party memory vendors to make future upgrades more readily available and cheaper for its customers.
We’ll have to wait until the end of the month to learn more about the Dell Precision 7670 mobile workstation and the company’s plans for CAMM going forward.
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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