PC part maker MSI has simply unveiled a brand new ATX motherboard that abandons the same old reminiscence sticks we’ve identified for many years, and replaces them with a brand new flat-mounted CAMM2 RAM module. It’s an idea that has probably enormous implications for the PC gaming RAM market if it takes off, that means we may simply be screwing future reminiscence upgrades into our motherboards, moderately than clicking them into slots.
We first noticed the potential to make the most effective gaming RAM on a desktop CAMM2 module in January 2024, however that is the primary time we’ve seen a serious desktop PC motherboard maker decide to it. What’s extra, the brand new MSI Z790 Challenge Zero Plus motherboard that sports activities the socket is a full-size ATX mannequin, moderately than a mini-ITX board, displaying that this new reminiscence customary is being taken significantly past the small kind issue world.
MSI revealed the brand new motherboard in a publish on X (previously Twitter), which reveals an illustrative picture of the Z790 Challenge Zero Plus fitted with a prototype Kingston Fury Influence DDR5 CAMM2 module. MSI says this module “demonstrates the compact measurement, skinny profile, and potential OC [overclocking] efficiency,” of such a setup, implying that laying out your reminiscence chips on this method can assist you squeeze extra efficiency out of them.
If the PCB is mendacity flat, there’s actually room to construct upwards with regards to heatsinks, and on this configuration, the reminiscence will likely be in the best place to learn from the usual front-to-back airflow methods present in a lot of the greatest PC instances.
Having the reminiscence module mendacity flat would additionally assist stop your reminiscence from clashing with massive CPU air coolers, or with a big AIO cooler radiator put in within the roof of your case. Nevertheless, I used to be anticipating the primary CAMM2 desktop gaming merchandise to be mini-ITX motherboards, the place having flat-mounted reminiscence would actually assist with regards to saving vertical area in compact instances.
We’ve seen loads of mini-ITX boards that use laptop computer SO-DIMM modules, for instance. It’s a shock to see CAMM2 already making it to the world of ATX motherboards, however an thrilling one nonetheless. This Kingston module additionally makes use of full-speed DDR5 reminiscence, moderately than the slower, low-power LPDDR5 reminiscence used on LPCAMM2 modules in laptops thus far.
It stays to be seen whether or not CAMM2 will take off as the brand new desktop customary for reminiscence, and even when it does, there’s prone to be a good cross-over interval with the DIMMs we’ve identified because the 90s. One of many benefits of sticking with the identical format is that avid gamers can avoid wasting cash by transferring their previous reminiscence to a brand new motherboard once they improve, and that turns into unattainable if it makes use of a very totally different module customary.
MSI says the brand new motherboard and Kingston reminiscence module will likely be previewed at Computex, and we hope to get a more in-depth have a look at it then. Within the meantime, for those who’re pondering of shopping for a RAM improve, take a look at our full information on easy methods to construct a gaming PC, which incorporates steering on easy methods to set up reminiscence modules.
