When two companies offer the same product, then price competition occurs. This is the case in the market for RAM memory modules, which have a wide variety of manufacturers competing in a highly contested space where their customers are both manufacturers of laptops and desktops, as well as users who want to expand their memory.
However, Dell has wanted to join the party with its CAMM memory modules, which only use their laptops and tie the final consumer to the price they set to expand the RAM of their computers. Something that has already been criticized. The manufacturer’s response? Trying to pass off its proprietary technology makes no more sense than making that component more expensive in its computers as a standard.
Dell intends to pass off its CAMM modules as a standard
A few days ago we told you how Dell had created a proprietary variant and without any sense instead of the SO-DIMM modules to use in its computers named CAMM. The objective? Not having competition when it comes to selling RAM memory expansion for their laptops and, therefore, making users swallow with high prices. Now from the manufacturer and assembler of computers they intend to clean up their image by making their proprietary modules be under the JEDEC standard.
Any and all laptops with RAM expandability are designed to use standard SO-DIMM modules, none of the manufacturers will use a variation that doesn’t do them any good. First, memory manufacturers are not going to adopt a second standard that doesn’t add anything substantial. Although Dell claims that its design is 57% thinner, we do not see companies like Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix and the rest of the manufacturers of RAM modules for desktops and laptops, adapt their factories for the assembly of CAMM memories. At the same time, laptop manufacturers are not going to adopt this new standard either, it is a huge nonsense and does not add anything compared to using regular SO-DIMM modules.
What’s more, the new type of memory requires an entirely new type of connector, which requires a redesign of the laptop’s motherboard. It stands to reason that this is a move by Dell to clean up its image. CAMM modules are really nothing special. It is another way of distributing the chips of the DDR5 memory modules. But the change in the way affects the upgradeability.
What is Dell up to?
Dell would apparently have plans for a SO-DIMM to CAMM interface and we don’t know what they intend with it. Let’s not forget that Dell’s idea is to unify the PCB of several memory modules into one, but if we add the SO-DIMM module to CAMM then the advantage of having a 57% thinner memory module is lost. Also, there is nothing to be gained from soldering and wiring conventional modules.
That is why from our point of view, and despite the cheers from the rest of the media, this is still a way for Dell to save the ballot and justify its idea of a firefighter. To top it off, the speed of the 128GB option is much slower. Being able to only reach 3600 MHz in terms of transfer speed, much lower than the current DDR5 that reaches 4800 MHz.
