But today we got our hands on LPCAMM2 for the first time, and this looks like the future to us. LPCAMM2 is a totally modular, repairable, upgradeable memory standard for laptops, using the latest LPDDR chips for maximum speed and efficiency. So instead of overpaying (or under-speccing) based on guesswork about your future memory needs, you’ll hopefully be able to buy your next laptop and then install more RAM as needed. Imagine that!
↫ Carsten Frauenheim
LPDDR memory, used in modern laptops, has been difficult – or impossible – to upgrade because its low power nature means it needs to be located as close to the processor as possible with short traces, since the longer the traces, the more power is needed to maintain signal integrity between the processor and RAM. This would defeat the entire purpose of low-power DDR memory to begin with.
Originally developed by Dell and eventually adopted by JEDEC and the wider industry, LPCAMM2 solves this problem by using screw-down RAM modules located right next to the processor. These modules can, like regular memory modules, be replaced and upgraded when needed or desired. This is a great leap forward, and I really, really hope we’re going to see quick, widespread adoption.
Thom Holwerda,
Same here. I don’t mind technological evolution that creates new standards, however please let it be consumer friendly and not some restrictive hardware designed for vendor locking and planned obsolescence.
Given the widespread use of soldered memory for configuration lock-in, I am prepared to be disappointed at the adoption rates.
I am not sure if that is so important these days. Yes, I recall times when people where buying Pentium II with 32 MB RAM and where heavily dispapppointed with the speed. Then the upgrade of RAM switched the computer on another level of performance. But, these days all long gone. Even on my desktop machines I don’t think I made more than a single memory upgrade during last ten years. Probably enforcing a minimum memory amount for a device, similarly for a speed for Internet connection would be better.
Bogdanow,
I typically over-provision ram so it’s less important that I upgrade it again later. So you might argue it doesn’t matter, however I beg to differ because I often buy secondhand hardware and the ability to upgrade it is of unquestionable benefit to me. Often times you can upgrade specs for much cheaper than when a system was new…better speeds/timings and capacity!
Not only is it flexible, but another factor that might not be immediately obvious is that it naturally makes components more competitive when you have a large number of suppliers competing for your business. When it is soldered in place, you have no choice of where to buy the higher spec parts.
Well that takes me back to the late 80s. My Tandy 1000TX had screwdown memory modules.