1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,860 Upgrading your laptop's RAM is a pain, but thanks to CAM2, an updated standard 2 00:00:05,860 --> 00:00:09,900 recently ratified by Jedeck, that might be about to change. 3 00:00:09,900 --> 00:00:12,940 CAM, or the compression attached memory module, 4 00:00:12,940 --> 00:00:17,340 is a memory form factor created by Dell engineer Tom Schnell. 5 00:00:17,340 --> 00:00:24,700 You might remember it launching as a proprietary solution in Dell laptops in 2022, replacing the SODIM form factor. 6 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:29,780 SODIM technically stands for Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module, 7 00:00:29,780 --> 00:00:33,620 but it just sounds like we're calling them stupid. And we are. 8 00:00:33,620 --> 00:00:40,380 To their credit, DIMMs were a significant upgrade when they started to replace SIMs back in the 1990s. 9 00:00:40,380 --> 00:00:43,380 SIM pins could only support 32-bit data, 10 00:00:43,380 --> 00:00:46,420 while DIM pins could manage 64-bit, 11 00:00:46,420 --> 00:00:50,660 meaning that a single DIM could do the job of two SIMs. 12 00:00:50,660 --> 00:00:55,300 SODIM is basically the same thing, just smaller, around half the size, 13 00:00:55,300 --> 00:01:00,480 which is why it's primarily used in laptops. Compared to memory soldered to the motherboard, 14 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:06,680 replaceable components like SODIM RAM sticks typically aren't as resistant to accidental jostling, 15 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,960 they use more power, and they take up more space. In a portable device, where space is at a premium 16 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:17,040 and cooling is already a problem, this has led to soldered memory becoming the default 17 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,800 at the expense of repairability and upgradeability. 18 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:26,640 Most users will never open the back end of their device, so many manufacturers have decided that it makes more sense 19 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,880 to ensure that it works today rather than it be upgradeable in the future. 20 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,800 But for those of us who'd rather upgrade a laptop that just needs a bit more RAM 21 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,320 rather than buy a whole new machine, it's a big disappointment. 22 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:44,300 So how does CAM2 address those problems? And can it really bring back upgradeable laptop RAM? 23 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:47,780 Dell's CAM, and the now standardized CAM2, 24 00:01:47,780 --> 00:01:52,280 is an attempt to close the gap between replaceable and soldered memory. 25 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,520 Looking at the original CAM and SODIM side-by-side, 26 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,360 you're probably gonna notice one big difference right away, the size. 27 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,280 The single CAM component is significantly longer and wider, 28 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,400 but it's also 57% thinner for an equivalent amount of RAM, 29 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,040 shaving off a few millimeters of height and reducing overall volume. 30 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,260 CAM and CAM2 can also support up to 128 gigabytes 31 00:02:15,260 --> 00:02:18,640 on a single module, and have significant improvements over SODIM 32 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:22,720 in terms of airflow. You might wonder why SODIM comes with RAM chips 33 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,360 mounted on both sides of the PCB like that if height is such an important factor, 34 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,360 but this is actually a way of accommodating yet another technical limitation of the format. 35 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:36,280 SODIM uses an edge connector, which means that traces for the chips 36 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,760 nearest to the connector need to zigzag in order to keep them the same length 37 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:46,280 as traces to chips on the far side. That increases both the time it takes the motherboard 38 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,720 to communicate with those chips and the risk of signal distortion and crosstalk 39 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:55,440 between circuits. As traces get longer, you need to increase the space between them 40 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:00,080 in order to manage that risk. Therefore, a double-sided PCB is the best way 41 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:05,720 to save space given the other constraints of the design. Even worse, due to these same size constraints 42 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,440 and timing issues, the wires from the CPU wind up traveling 43 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,880 under the SODIM module and connecting to the far side, 44 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,600 leading to a minimum trace length of 7.5 centimeters. 45 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:22,460 CAM and CAM2, on the other hand, use a land grid array connector similar to a typical CPU. 46 00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:26,620 Because it has connecting pins across its rear face rather than on one edge, 47 00:03:26,620 --> 00:03:30,980 all the chips are now significantly closer to the connector and the motherboard. 48 00:03:30,980 --> 00:03:36,220 Further, CAM2 comes in configurations for two single channels or one dual channel. 49 00:03:36,220 --> 00:03:40,700 In part due to this connector change, CAM2 will also need to be screwed down 50 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:46,580 in order to ensure it maintains consistent contact, which has both advantages and disadvantages. 51 00:03:46,580 --> 00:03:50,640 It reduces the potential that the component might come unseated due to jostling, 52 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:55,160 but it also adds the need for a screwdriver, like this one from lttstore.com, 53 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,340 rather than just easily slotting in like a SODIM. 54 00:03:58,340 --> 00:04:03,440 Likewise, depending on the design of their device, some users might need to replace their existing CAM2 55 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,000 with a new one when they wanna upgrade rather than simply buying a second SODIM 56 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:13,020 and plugging it in. Another reason why some companies are pushing for CAM2 now 57 00:04:13,020 --> 00:04:18,200 is SODIM actually has a speed cap of around 6,400 megahertz. 58 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,440 Most mainstream SODIM designs haven't hit this ceiling yet, 59 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,840 but it's a future problem that CAM is solving today 60 00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:29,240 with a proactive design that places the module in closer contact with the motherboard. 61 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,920 On the level of electronics and materials, CAM and SODIM are extremely similar, 62 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,100 meaning that they'll likely be similar in terms of price to performance 63 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:40,800 and software interoperability. Now as for power efficiency, 64 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,960 the CAM2 standard also comes with both DDR5 65 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,400 and LPDDR5 slash 5X designs, 66 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,520 while SODIM is limited to the more power intensive DDR5. 67 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:57,520 In order to prevent anyone from accidentally crossing the streams, which may lead to a total protonic reversal, 68 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,600 the slots for DDR5 and LPDDR5 versions of CAM2 69 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,520 will be physically distinct to prevent one from getting plugged into the other. 70 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,960 The option of LPDDR5 might mean we'll see more 71 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,200 upgradable RAM even in relatively small devices like tablets or single board computers. 72 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:19,680 It's unclear at this point whether CAM2 is truly the default laptop memory format of tomorrow, 73 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:24,920 but thanks to this new ratification by JEDEC, it will likely gain interest and become cheaper over time. 74 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,280 Dell is of course a major backer of the new standard, 75 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:33,640 but Samsung and Micron also announced plans to incorporate CAM modules in upcoming products, 76 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:39,580 even prior to the ratification of CAM2. Wow, maybe we really are in the best timeline. 77 00:05:39,580 --> 00:05:43,520 But one thing's for sure, you are the best viewer for watching all the way to the end. 78 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,300 Wow, thanks for watching. Like the video if you liked it, dislike it if you disliked it. 79 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:51,300 One of those goes with one of those. Check out our other videos, comment below the video 80 00:05:51,300 --> 00:05:54,860 suggestions, don't forget to subscribe and follow TechWiki. Okay, I made it.