The Dell Precision 7670 Workstation is the first laptop with CAMM RAM
The Dell Precision 7670 Workstation is equipped with Compression Attached Memory Module (CAMM) memory, perhaps the first real alternative to the rather old DIMM and SO-DIMM formats. At the same time, the standard belongs to Dell and requires licensing.
Because Dell patented CAMM, there were fears that the new standard would remain proprietary and that laptops using CAMM would only be able to use memory purchased from Dell. However, the company soon announced that it intended to license CAMM with the Joint Electronic Equipment Development Council (JEDEC).
Dell may be the only company currently offering CAMM memory, but hopes other vendors will support it in the future. Precision notebook models that currently support CAMM will also have SO-DIMM options, allowing you to purchase the latest Precision models while maintaining the option of more affordable memory upgrades.
Compared to SO-DIMMs, CAMM connectors shorten the connection length between the processor and memory. The design of the modules is thinner and heats up less – in the future, this will allow manufacturers to make laptops thinner and lighter. One of the reasons why Dell is switching to CAMM is to quickly reach the possible limit of the number of SO-DIMM connections. The company believes that by the time PCs switch to DDR6 system memory, transfer speeds will exceed the capabilities of SO-DIMMs. CAMM already has the upper hand in this field, allowing 128GB of 4800 RAM, while SO-DIMM is limited to 4000 at this capacity.
So far, the only major drawback of the new standard is that it is slightly more difficult for users to install and upgrade modules than DIMMs and SO-DIMMs. On the new Precision laptops, the process involves removing six screws and a stiffener plate, which is more difficult than opening the SO-DIMM latches. However, the additional steps are still not too difficult.
In addition to the new RAM format, the Dell Precision 7670 includes 12th generation Intel processors, NVIDIA Quadro RTX graphics cards, a 16-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, and a PCIe 4 solid-state drive. Buyers can choose to install Windows 10 , Windows 11 or Ubuntu. The workstation costs from $2,400.
