Has anyone received a 7670 with SO-DIMM RAM and/or the adapter for SO-DIMM RAM?

[rgames]

I'm interested in the 7670 but am turned off by the proprietary memory modules.  However, the spec sheet says the system is compatible with standard SO-DIMM memory and the service manual gives instructions for replacing SO-DIMMs.  From what I can see, there is an adapter that is used so that SO-DIMM modules can be used in the 7670.

 

But here's the catch: there's no way to order the 7670 with anything but the CAMM module.  And the adapter appears not to exist anywhere that I or anyone at Dell can find.

 

So, has anyone gotten a 7670 with SO-DIMM RAM and/or managed to purchase a SO-DIMM adapter?

 

Thanks,

 

rgames

[Aaron44126]

The SODIMM configurations (with the CAMM/SODIMM adapter) are not yet available for sale, but should be offered within the coming weeks(/months?).

 

The adapter will not be available standalone from Dell.  (You might be able to find it on eBay or other third-party sites, down the line.)

[AL123]

6 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

The SODIMM configurations (with the CAMM/SODIMM adapter) are not yet available for sale, but should be offered within the coming weeks(/months?).

 

The adapter will not be available standalone from Dell.  (You might be able to find it on eBay or other third-party sites, down the line.)

I heard this week so shouldn’t be long to wait at-least for factory builds 🙂 can’t remember the exact day but given dell usually do things on a Tuesday I’d say today or tomorrow most likely 

 

 

[jaybee83]

12 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

The SODIMM configurations (with the CAMM/SODIMM adapter) are not yet available for sale, but should be offered within the coming weeks(/months?).

 

The adapter will not be available standalone from Dell.  (You might be able to find it on eBay or other third-party sites, down the line.)

i wonder why they dont offer it standalone.... 🤪🤦‍♂️

[Aaron44126]

3 minutes ago, jaybee83 said:

i wonder why they dont offer it standalone.... 🤪🤦‍♂️

 

You'll still be able to order a system with the cheapest SODIMM configuration and then upgrade the RAM yourself using any modules that you like, like people are used to doing (...once they make SODIMM configurations available).  The downside is, you can only install two SODIMM modules, not four.  If you want 128GB, you have to go for CAMM.

[jaybee83]

Just now, Aaron44126 said:

 

You'll still be able to order a system with the cheapest SODIMM configuration and then upgrade the RAM yourself using any modules that you like, like people are used to doing.  (...Once they make SODIMM configurations available.)  The downside is, you can only install two SODIMM modules, not four.  If you want 128GB, you have to go for CAMM.

yeah at least u have the option to go SO-DIMM at all. but i dont get this whole format switching, seems to unnecessary when the existing standard is working perfectly fine and is widely adopted...

[Aaron44126]

10 minutes ago, jaybee83 said:

yeah at least u have the option to go SO-DIMM at all. but i dont get this whole format switching, seems to unnecessary when the existing standard is working perfectly fine and is widely adopted...

 

SODIMM is going to have signal issues at higher speeds; we'll probably run into this before the DDR5 cycle runs to completion, as speeds ramp up.  Dell is trying to get ahead of this and make CAMM the next standard for laptop memory.  (It is currently in front of JEDEC.)  Who knows if they will succeed.  However, if they do not, we'll probably end up with something similar to what we have with MXM right now — a mishmash of pseudo-standards, entirely custom vendor-specific designs (of which CAMM will be one), and (even more) soldered on DRAM chips for laptop makers that don't want to bother with modularity.

[Ionising_Radiation]

7 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

(It is currently in front of JEDEC.)  Who knows if they will succeed

I really hope there is a JEDEC standard, CAMM or not. 

[jaybee83]

29 minutes ago, Ionising_Radiation said:

I really hope there is a JEDEC standard, CAMM or not. 

this. no matter what comes, id like a universal, socketable standard.

[TwistedAndy]

SODIMM adapters will be available later.

 

From my perspective it is reasonable to purchase a configuration with the required amount of RAM, especially for such expensive devices like 7670/7770. Yep, Dell charges more for additional memory, but not so much. Kit with 2x32Gb Kingston Fury (KF548S38IBK2-64) now costs 485$ vs. 657$ for 64GB CAMM option. There're some options to save another $100-$150, but it doesn't really matter for $4-5K total device price.

 

Technically, it is nice to have an opportunity to install a low-latency memory like G.Skill Ripjaws DDR5-4800 CL34, but it is limited to 16GB per module. 32GB modules from Kingston or G.Skill have a higher latency (at least CL38), which is comparable to CAMM (CL40, I assume).

[AL123]

So dimm options are showing on the uk configurators albeit with errors I suspect it’s not adding the interposer to the build as it’s saying missing part error.

 

also missing 64 GB ECC option currently which is what I would be going for over CAM. You can have 64GB non ECC however 

[SvenC]

21 hours ago, TwistedAndy said:

SODIMM adapters will be available later.

 

From my perspective it is reasonable to purchase a configuration with the required amount of RAM, especially for such expensive devices like 7670/7770. Yep, Dell charges more for additional memory, but not so much. Kit with 2x32Gb Kingston Fury (KF548S38IBK2-64) now costs 485$ vs. 657$ for 64GB CAMM option. There're some options to save another $100-$150, but it doesn't really matter for $4-5K total device price.

 

Technically, it is nice to have an opportunity to install a low-latency memory like G.Skill Ripjaws DDR5-4800 CL34, but it is limited to 16GB per module. 32GB modules from Kingston or G.Skill have a higher latency (at least CL38), which is comparable to CAMM (CL40, I assume).

 

Just checked in germany again: going from the standard 16GB to 64 with CAMM is +850€ (so that is just the diff from 16 to 64GB, 64GB CAMM on its own must be counted even higher, close to 1000€) - after market Kingston ValueRAM SO-DIMM Kit 64GB, DDR5-4800 is around 320€ - tripled price. I guess the new 7x70 Precisions just left the price range acceptable for our purchase department - "normal" dev machines were about 2700 to 3000€ for us.

[pintie]

64 to 128GB was 550€ (with german tax) for me.

The prices on the Dell homepage are not what you pay when you ask for a discount...

[jaybee83]

7 minutes ago, pintie said:

64 to 128GB was 550€ (with german tax) for me.

The prices on the Dell homepage are not what you pay when you ask for a discount...

yeah its more like the prices adjusted in such a way that asking for a discount will then get u regular aftermarket pricing 😄 

[Collector]

On 8/30/2022 at 9:46 AM, TwistedAndy said:

SODIMM adapters will be available later.

 

From my perspective it is reasonable to purchase a configuration with the required amount of RAM, especially for such expensive devices like 7670/7770. Yep, Dell charges more for additional memory, but not so much. Kit with 2x32Gb Kingston Fury (KF548S38IBK2-64) now costs 485$ vs. 657$ for 64GB CAMM option. There're some options to save another $100-$150, but it doesn't really matter for $4-5K total device price.

 

Technically, it is nice to have an opportunity to install a low-latency memory like G.Skill Ripjaws DDR5-4800 CL34, but it is limited to 16GB per module. 32GB modules from Kingston or G.Skill have a higher latency (at least CL38), which is comparable to CAMM (CL40, I assume).

 

Would the 7670 be able to take advantage of lower CL RAM like the Kingston Fury? From the manual it doesn't look like there are any XMP settings in the bios, but I'm not sure if XMP is necessary for just CAS latency.

 

What RAM have people tried in their machines so far?

[MyPC8MyBrain]

i have the 7670 with SODIMM module in hand, 
in case anyone interested it is just a module converter mounted on top of the CAMM connector,
technically one could remove the SODIMM bracket converter and use a CAMM module instead,

[TwistedAndy]

On 10/5/2022 at 9:00 PM, Collector said:

Would the 7670 be able to take advantage of lower CL RAM like the Kingston Fury? From the manual it doesn't look like there are any XMP settings in the bios, but I'm not sure if XMP is necessary for just CAS latency.

 

The difference between CL38 (Fury) and regular RAM with CL40 is minimal.

[Dell-Mano_G]

On 10/7/2022 at 4:04 PM, MyPC8MyBrain said:

i have the 7670 with SODIMM module in hand, 
in case anyone interested it is just a module converter mounted on top of the CAMM connector,
technically one could remove the SODIMM bracket converter and use a CAMM module instead,

Howdy @MyPC8MyBrain, swapping back and forward from SoDIMM to CAMM, and vise versa, is not support.  There are different thickness parts that are needed for the swap to be successful.  I just wanted to give you a heads up.  

[MyPC8MyBrain]

@Dell-Mano_G 
Thank you for the heads up,
it does looks as if the SODIMM module is removed a CAMM memory module can be installed in its place,

i was not swapping modules back and forth,
this is how my system came, with the SODIMM pre installed,
that's what i meant when i said "in hand" not my actual hand but in my system 😉 ,
 

[Light]

If you get the model with the so-dimm interposer now, can you install a camm module instead of the so-dimm interposer at some point in the future, or are you locked to the so-dimm interposer forever in that sysstem? Are extra parts needed other than a camm module if you wanted to change from the so-dimm memory module+interposer to camm memory module at some point in the future?
 

(I went with so-dimm right now because it was the only ECC option)

[Aaron44126]

1 hour ago, Light said:

Are extra parts needed other than a camm module if you wanted to change from the so-dimm memory module+interposer to camm memory module at some point in the future?

 

See @Dell-Mano_G's post just above...

[Light]

I wasn't sure if I was understanding correctly. So the interposer isn't an adapter that can be installed and removed then without extra parts (that are between the motherboard and camm module or different parts (there or removed) between the motherboard and interposer?) 

A good heads up as I hadn't though to think of that. Was just thinking the interposer would mimic the camm module to the motherboard.

[Aaron44126]

Seems like there are more parts than just that.  Possibly, the pressure plate that does the "compression" of the memory module against the motherboard CAMM connector is a different thickness.

[Dell-Mano_G]

@Aaron44126 is correct.  Between the CAMM memory module (also the SoDIMM interposer) and the motherboard there is a compression module.  It has the U or checkmark shaped pins on it to connect the CAMM module, or interposer, to the motherboard.  There are different thickness compression modules depending on if you are using CAMM memory or SoDIMMs via the interposer.  Because the interposer is thicker, due to the SoDIMM connectors, it has a much thinner compression module than if you are using CAMM memory.  The thinner module is about 0.4mm.  The thinner compression module is used to allow the leverage of the same bottom doors.  If we only had 1 compression module than we would need different thickness bottom doors.  Due to this we have 2 different thickness compression modules in use, one for the CAMM module and one for the interposer.  The interposer should never have to be removed.  The SoDIMMs can just be removed/replaced on the interposer the same as you would any other SoDIMMs in a laptop.  

If swapping out CAMM memory, you would leverage the same compression module as was already there.  

Due to possible customer issues with swapping back and forth from CAMM to interposer, and not knowing the proper procedures, we currently don't allow going back and forth between the two types of memory. 

I hope this helps.   

[Light]

Thanks very much for the details!