Summary of "New Laptop Memory Is Here! LPCAMM2 Changes Everything!"
Product reviewed
LPCAMM2 laptop memory standard (Low-Power Compression-Attached Memory Module), demonstrated on the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 workstation with Micron as the first supplier.
Key features mentioned
- Uses LPDDR chips (low power), but mounts them on a PCB-style module rather than requiring extreme proximity to the CPU.
- Uses short traces / placement near the CPU to help maintain signal integrity (addressing a key LPDDR routing issue).
- Designed to be repairable and upgradeable via module replacement, rather than permanent soldering.
- Includes a replaceable compression connector underneath the module that’s keyed for correct orientation.
Where it’s shown (example device)
- Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is described as the first laptop you can buy using LPCAMM2.
- Lenovo + Micron collaborated with iFixit due to their repairability focus. iFixit states it helped get more repairable products to market.
User experience / repair & upgrade process (ThinkPad P1)
Module replacement steps
- Remove six screws and take off the bottom cover.
- Disconnect the battery.
- Unscrew/loosen three captive Phillips screws in any order.
- Lift out the LPCAMM2 module.
- Install the module using the keyed compression connector.
- Re-tighten the screws in the correct order (described as “easy as 1, 2, 3”).
Overall feel
- The module is described as small, thin, and not complicated to remove and replace.
Pros (as stated in the video)
- More repairable/upgradeable than many current laptop memory designs—replacement is likened to “like conventional RAM.”
- More performant than older SODIMM, positioned as better than traditional socketed RAM in this context.
- More efficient than SODIMM, described as vastly more efficient and space-saving.
- Potential thermal benefits: “should even help with thermals as well.”
- Better than Apple’s Unified Memory in repairability (even if Apple integration may be tighter).
Cons / concerns mentioned
- Industry-wide concern: Although LPCAMM2 is intended to be upgradeable via the module, Micron notes a broader worry for “module-like but solder/embedded” approaches:
- If RAM upgrades aren’t possible, users may need to buy a new system when requirements change.
- Micron criticizes soldered-down memory for creating “planned obsolescence” as expectations evolve.
- Naming/marketing: The video suggests LPCAMM2 may need a more exciting moniker to sell its benefits—framed as more of a critique than a technical issue.
Comparisons made
SODIMM RAM (traditional socketed laptop style)
- Pros: repairable/replacement-friendly.
- Cons: described as bulky, power-hungry, and based on a 25-year-old standard that isn’t staying competitive.
LPDDR (soldered close to the CPU)
- Pros: small and efficient.
- Cons: must be soldered extremely close to the CPU to preserve signal integrity, and is described as not repairable/upgradeable.
Apple Unified Memory
- LPCAMM2 is said to be preferred over Apple’s because Apple places chips directly on/near the CPU package for integration.
- The video claims Apple’s approach is “least repairable.”
Outcome stance
- The hosts prefer “repairable, upgradeable” memory even if other designs offer tighter integration.
Numerical / rating information
- No explicit numeric ratings or scores were provided for LPCAMM2 itself.
Additional user-related commentary (Apple example)
- The video references press criticism that some entry-level MacBook Pro configurations ship with 8GB, arguing that upgradability would be important.
- With LPCAMM2, they claim it’s possible to upgrade later, unlike implied limitations of non-upgradable configurations.
Overall verdict / recommendation
LPCAMM2 is presented as a future-facing laptop memory design that combines low-power efficiency with real repairability and upgradeability. The demo suggests it’s practical to replace. The core recommendation is to favor LPCAMM2-style modular repairability over permanently soldered memory approaches (including Apple’s least repairable unified approach).
Unique points by speaker / contributors
-
Hosts / iFixit-style presentation:
- Explained why SODIMM and LPDDR got “painted into a corner.”
- Demonstrated the ThinkPad P1, emphasizing ease of replacement and the replaceable compression connector.
- Compared favorably vs SODIMM, soldered LPDDR, and Apple Unified Memory (repairability).
- Suggested marketing rename ideas and joked about future naming.
-
Micron (James Van Patten, quoted):
- Criticizes the consumer downside of soldered-down/obsolescence when workloads evolve (e.g., needing more RAM after a year).
- Emphasizes the need to promote and build acceptance for the “right path.”
Category
Product Review
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