MSI on Thursday revealed the primary picture of a brand new desktop motherboard that helps the revolutionary DDR5 compression connected reminiscence module (CAMM2). DDR5 CAMM2 modules are designed to enhance upon the SO-DIMM kind issue used for laptops, assuaging a number of the high-speed signaling and capability limitations of SO-DIMMs whereas additionally shaving down on the amount of area required. And whereas we’re eagerly awaiting to see CAMM2 present up in additional laptops, its introduction in a PC motherboard comes as a little bit of a shock, since PCs aren’t almost as space-constrained.
MSI’s Z790 Mission Zero Plus motherboard, which helps Intel’s newest 14th Technology Core processors, is to a big diploma a proof-of-concept product that’s showcasing a number of new applied sciences and atypical configuration choices. Key amongst these, in fact, is the CAMM2 connector. The one connector helps a 128-bit DDR5 reminiscence bus, permitting for a system to be totally populated with RAM with only a single, horizontally-mounted CAMM2 module. And when it comes to design, the Zero Plus additionally options bottom energy connectors for improved cable administration.
CAMM2 is designed to switch conventional modules in an SO-DIMM form-factor and is supposed to occupy as much as 64% much less area than two DDR5 SO-DIMMs. As well as, CAMM2 enormously optimizes sign and energy traces contained in the motherboard, primarily by making certain all reminiscence hint lengths are equivalent, lowering a number of the signaling penalties that usually come from supporting a number of SO-DIMM slots in a system. With DDR5 being significantly delicate right here – to the purpose the place 2 DIMM Per Channel (2DPC) configurations take a max frequency hit even on desktop techniques – CAMM2 modules are anticipated to simplify and, to a level, enhance laptop computer designs to raised match DDR5’s limitations.
Although whether or not CAMM2 sees widespread adoption stays to be seen. In contrast to it is LPDDR5X counterpart, LPCAMM2, DDR5 CAMM2 hasn’t attracted the identical curiosity from laptop computer distributors fairly but, largely as a result of it would not introduce any new performance (e.g. socketed LPDDR5X).
In the meantime CAMM2 in ATX desktops is all however unexplored proper now, which is why we’re seeing experimental merchandise like MSI’s motherboard. The area financial savings alone aren’t as necessary in desktops resulting from their measurement – although CAMM2 does reduce down on Z-height, retaining reminiscence away from CPU coolers. However PC makers will likely be different components resembling stock, as equipping desktop boards with CAMM2 connectors would enable them to make use of the identical reminiscence modules in each laptops and desktops. And long run there’s the query of whether or not CAMM2 can ship tangible signaling advantages over conventional DIMMs.
MSI plans to showcase its Z790 Mission Zero Plus platform at Computex, alongside reminiscence companion Kingston. The latter will likely be on the present to display its Fury Impression CAMM2 reminiscence module, which is without doubt one of the first DDR5 CAMM2 modules to be introduced.
